Therapeutic use of anti-cs1 antibodies

ABSTRACT

The present invention is directed to antagonists of CS1 that bind to and neutralize at least one biological activity of CS1. The invention also includes a pharmaceutical composition comprising such antibodies or antigen-binding fragments thereof. The present invention also provides for a method of preventing or treating disease states, including autoimmune disorders and cancer, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering into said subject an effective amount of such antagonists.

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application 60/469,211, filed May 8, 2003, U.S. Provisional Application 60/557,620, filed Mar. 29, 2004, U.S. Provisional Application 60/557,622, filed Mar. 29, 2004, and U.S. Provisional Application 60/557,621, filed Mar. 29, 2004, each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of antagonists and antibodies in the treatment of diseases, including diseases related to autoimmune and cancer. The invention further relates to methods for detecting, identifying and modulating these diseases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Increased expression of immunoglobulin is a characteristic of many diseases. High level secretion of immunoglobulin causes a variety of disorders, including hyperviscosity syndrome, a debilitating disorder resulting in fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, mental confusion, chest pain, kidney damage and failure, vision problems and Raynaud's phenomenon (poor blood circulation, particularly fingers, toes, nose and ears). Cold agglutinin disease, mixed cryoglobulinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, Sjogren's syndrome, Lichen myxedematosus, and Gaucher's disease are examples of diseases associated with increased expression of immunoglobulins.

Increased expression of immunoglobulin targeted to self-proteins is a hallmark of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disease is a failure of the immune system to recognize auto-antigens as self. In autoimmune diseases, the immune system mistakenly attacks itself, targeting cells, tissues and organs, eventually resulting in the destruction of physiological systems. Autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases are multi-factorial in origin, with genetic predisposition, host factors (e.g. weakness of immunoregulatory controls, defects in suppressor T cells, or polyclonal stimulation of B cells resistant to controls), environmental factors and antigen-driven mechanisms being implicated in the development of autoimmunity and production of self-antibodies to self-antigens.

Gastrointestinal disorders and Systemic Lupus Erythrematosus (SLE) are two examples of autoimmune diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a subgroup of gastrointestinal disorders, is a group of incurable disorders that affect approximately 4 million individuals worldwide. The etiology of recurrent inflammatory bowel disease is currently unknown. Theories include an autoimmune-mediated destruction of gastrointestinal cells, including lymphocytes. Abnormal homotypic aggregation in heritable inflammatory bowel disease models has been demonstrated previously, and mutations in NOD2, a gene implicated in autoimmune disorders, has been shown to predispose patients to Crohn's disease. Ni, J. et al., Immunological abnormality in C3H/HeJ mice with heritable inflammatory bowel disease, Cell Immunol. 169:7-15 (1996); Ogura, Y. et al., A frameshift mutation in NOD2 associated with susceptibility to Crohn's Disease, Nature 411: 603-606 (2001).

IBDs most often affect the small intestine and colon, but may involve any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. There are over 1 million people diagnosed with IBD in the United States alone, with over 10,000 new cases diagnosed annually. Because of the drastic effect in the quality of life for IBD patients, tens of thousands of lost hours are claimed annually, equaling up to 1 billion dollars in missed work days a year.

IBD produces a range of gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, weight loss, skin and eye disorders, and delayed growth and sexual maturation in children. Two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, which share similar symptoms and physiological manifestations, but differ in the manner in which they affect the digestive tract. Ulcerative colitis is characterized by ulcerative inflammation of all or part of the colonic mucosa, most frequently including the rectum. Its symptoms include rectal bleeding and urgency, tenesmus, and diarrhea. Ulcerative colitis is accompanied by serious short- and long-term complications. The most serious short-term complications are fulminant colitis, toxic megacolon, and perforation. Severe long-term complications include osteoporosis and colorectal cancer.

Crohn's disease is a chronic transmural inflammation that may affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus. Crohn's disease is discontinuous, with unaffected areas interspersed between one or more involved areas. Late in the disease, the mucosa develops a cobblestone appearance, which results from deep longitudinal ulcerations interlaced with intervening normal mucosa.

Most Crohn's disease patients present with symptoms of abdominal pain and tenderness, chronic or nocturnal diarrhea, rectal bleeding, weight loss, and fever. Crohn's disease evolves over time from a primarily inflammatory disease into one of two clinical patterns: structuring (obstructive) or penetrating (fistulizing). In the structuring form, transmural inflammation produces fibromuscular proliferation in the intestinal wall, followed by luminal narrowing. Symptoms of obstruction become common as CD progresses. In the penetrating form, sinus tracts form as inflammation tunnels through the bowel wall and breaches the serosal surface, fistulizing into adjoining tissues and even through the skin.

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are generally diagnosed using clinical, endoscopic, and histologic criteria. However, so far the traditional diagnostic techniques have established that no single finding is absolutely diagnostic for one disease or the other. Furthermore, approximately 20% of patients have a clinical picture that falls between Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Patients that fit this profile are said to have indeterminate colitis.

IBD symptoms can greatly impact a patient's well-being, quality of life, and capacity to function. Inflammatory periods are protracted and frequent, and depending on the severity, life crippling. Because IBD is chronic and typically has an onset before 30 years of age, patients generally require lifelong treatment. The elucidation of a role for novel proteins and compounds in disease states for identification of potential targets and diagnostic markers is valuable for improving the current treatment of inflammatory bowel disease patients.

SLE is characterized by the production of auto-antibodies to a variety of ubiquitous molecules, which can have pathogenic consequences including damage to numerous organs and tissues, including skin, kidney, brain, and heart. The current approved treatments for SLE involve non-specific immunosuppression and symptom control through steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, immunomodulators, and anti-malarial drugs. However, these treatment approaches result in risks of renal toxicity and early mortality. Thus, it is desirable to develop a new approach that specifically interferes with lymphocyte activation and auto-antibody production.

Other autoimmune diseases in which increased expression of immunoglobulin and/or B cells play a significant role include idiopathic thrombocytopenia, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), autoimmune hemolytic anemia, and Myasthenia gravis. Evidence for the role of B cells and/or increased immunoglobulin comes from studies with patients treated with steroids, immunosuppressive agents, and/or anti-CD20 antibodies (which target B cells). Improvement in symptoms in these diseases correlates with a decrease in B cells and/or serum immunoglobulin, underscoring the pivotal role that B cells play in a variety of autoimmune diseases.

Increased expression of immunoglobulin can also be seen in malignant diseases. Like autoimmune disorders, the etiology of cancer is similarly multi-factorial in origin. Cancer, which is the second leading cause of death in the United States, has been linked to mutations in DNA that cause unrestrained growth of cells. Genetic predisposition plays a large role in the development of many cancers, combined with environmental factors, such as smoking and chemical mutagenesis.

Cancer can occur in any tissue or organ of the body. Plasma cell neoplasms, including multiple myeloma, “Solitary” myeloma of bone, extramedullary plasmacytoma, plasma cell leukemia, macroglobulinemia (including Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia), heavy-chain disease, primary amyloidosis, monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS) are associated with increased expression of immunoglobulins. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a non-plasma cell neoplasm, is also associated with high levels of immunoglobulin expression.

Myelomas, or Kahler's disease, are tumors of plasma cells derived from a single clone, which typically originates in secondary lymphoid tissue and then migrates into and resides in bone marrow tissue. Myelomas commonly affect the bone marrow and adjacent bone structures, with primary symptoms of bone pain and pathological fractures or lesions (osteolytic bone lesions), abnormal bleeding, anemia and increased susceptibility to infections. Advanced stages of the disease include renal failure, skeletal deformities, compaction of the spinal cord, and hypercalcemia. Myeloma affects bone cells by inducing osteoclast resorption of bone, hence decimating bone structure and increasing calcium concentration in plasma. The etiology of myelomas is currently unknown. Linkage to radiation damage, mutations in oncogenes, familial causes and abnormal IL6 expression have been postulated.

Multiple myelomas are plasma cell tumors with multiple origins. Multiple myelomas account for nearly 10% of all plasma cell malignancies, and are the most common bone tumor cancer in adults, with an annual incident rate of 3 to 4 cases per 100,000 people. In the United States, multiple myelomas are the second most common hematologic malignancy after Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, with approximately 50,000 cases in the United States alone, and approximately 13,500 new reported cases every year. The prognosis outlook for patients diagnosed with multiple myelomas is grim, with only several months to a year for patients with advanced forms of the disease.

Traditional treatment regions for myeloma and multiple myelomas (henceforth referred to as “myeloma”) consist of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. In addition, bone marrow transplantation is recommended for patients who are otherwise in good health. The cure rate for patients approaches 30%, and is the only method known that can cure myelomas. However, for individuals who are older or cannot tolerate bone marrow transplantation procedures, chemotherapy is most appropriate.

Current diagnostic procedures include X rays, bone marrow aspiration, blood and urine tests (to detect the presence of the Bence Jones protein), and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate assay. Potential cell surface markers in myelomatous plasma cells have also been identified, including CD38, CD9, CD10, HLA-DR, and CD20. Ruiz-Arugelles G J and San Miguel J F, Cell Surface Markers in Multiple Myeloma, Mayo Clin. Proc. 69:684-90 (1994). Other non-B-cell lineage markers include CD2, CD4, CD13, CD14, CD15, CD23, CD 24, CD25, CD33, CD39, CDw40, CD41, CD45R, CD54, CD56 and CD71, as well as unclustered antigens, R1-3, PCA-1, PCA-2, PC1, 62B1, 8A, 8F6 and MM4). Ruiz-Arugelles, supra; Leo R, et al., Multiparameter analysis of normal and malignant human plasma cells, Ann. Hematol. 64:132-9 (1992). In addition, appearance of abnormal antibodies, known as M-protein, is an indicator of multiple myeloma. The increased production of M-protein has been linked to hyperviscosity syndrome in multiple myelomas, causing debilitating side effects, including fatigue, headaches, shortness of breath, mental confusion, chest pain, kidney damage and failure, vision problems and Raynaud's phenomenon (poor blood circulation, particularly fingers, toes, nose and ears). Cryoglobulinemia occurs when M-protein in the blood forms particles under cold conditions. These particles can block small blood vessels and cause pain and numbness in the toes, fingers, and other extremities during cold weather. Prognostic indicators, such as chromosomal deletions, elevated levels of beta-2 microglobulin, serum creatinine levels and IgA isotyping have also been studied. Tricot G, et al., Poor prognosis in Multiple Myeloma, Blood 86:4250-2 (1995).

CS1 (SLAMF7, 19A; Genbank Accession Number NM_(—)021181.3, Ref. Boles and Mathew (2001) Immunogenetics 52:302-307; Bouchon et al., (2001) J. Immunol. 167:5517-5521; Murphy et al., (2002) Biochem. J. 361:431-436) is a member of the CD2 subset of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Molecules of the CD2 family are involved in a broad range of immunomodulatory functions, such as co-activation, proliferation differentiation, and adhesion of lymphocytes, as well as immunoglobulin secretion, cytokine production, and NK cell cytotoxicity. Several members of the CD2 family, such as CD2, CD58, and CD150, play a role or have been proposed to play a role in a number of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis.

CS1 (also known as CRACC, 19A, APEX-1, and FOAP12) was isolated and cloned by Boles, K. et al. (see Immunogenetics 52: 302-307 (2001)). It has been reported that CS1 plays a role in NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and lymphocyte adhesion (Bouchon, A., et al., J. of Immuno. 5517-5521 (2001); Murphy, J. et al., Biochem. J. 361: 431-436 (2002)).

PCT Application PCT/US00/34963 discloses a monoclonal antibody against APEX-1 and the use thereof for detecting the produced recombinant extracellular domain of APEX-1. However, antibodies capable of inhibiting immunoglobulin production by B cells and/or proliferation and/or development of myelomas have not been developed and disclosed in the above-referenced publications. Also, evidence of over-expression of CS-1 in autoimmune disease or cancer has not been developed or disclosed in the above-referenced publications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The elucidation of a role for novel proteins and compounds in disease states for identification of potential targets and diagnostic markers is valuable for improving the current treatment of autoimmune and cancer patients, including patients afflicted with IBD, SLE, RA and myeloma. Accordingly, provided herein are molecular targets for treatment and diagnosis of these diseases, particularly CS1. Additionally, provided herein are antagonists that bind to and neutralize CS1, including neutralizing antibodies such as anti-CS1 antibodies.

The present invention is based in part on our discovery that there is no significant CS1 protein expression detected on platelets, red blood cells, endothelial cells (HuVECs), kidney cells, bronchial airway cells, small airway cells, prostate cells, liver cells or breast cells. CS1 expression is lymphoid specific, and is detected on cells from patients, including plasma cells from multiple myeloma and plasma cell leukemia patients. Expression is detected only on plasma cells and not detectable at significant levels on other cell types from bone marrow samples. Accordingly, the present invention has demonstrated the feasibility of using anti-CS1 antibodies as therapeutic agents for the treatment of cancer, including but not limited to plasma cell neoplasms, including myeloma, multiple myeloma, “solitary” myeloma of bone, extramedullary plasmacytoma, plasma cell leukemia, macroglobulinemia (including Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia), heavy-chain disease, primary amyloidosis, monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS). In addition, non-plasma cell neoplasms associated with increased expression of immunoglobulin, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), will also benefit from anti-CS1 therapy.

In addition, previous studies have not revealed the expression of CS1 protein on in vitro PWM (pokeweed mitogen)-activated peripheral blood B cells, subsets of memory/effector versus naïve peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes, or CD14⁺ monocytes/macrophages from peripheral blood. Previous studies have also not revealed the role of CS1 in immunoglobulin production. As a result, the correlation between CS1 and autoimmune diseases has not been previously established. The present invention is also based in part on our discovery that the CS1 RNA and protein expression are strongly up-regulated in activated peripheral blood B cells, the cell subset responsible for auto-antibody production and believed to play a significant role in the development of autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the present invention has revealed that expression of the CS1 RNA in SLE patient peripheral blood B lymphocytes is increased in comparison to B cells from age-matched healthy adults, as well as in patients afflicted with IBD. The present invention reveals that CS-1 is expressed on infiltrating plasma cells in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) synovium. The present invention has also revealed that CS1 is involved in antibody production and that antibodies to CS1 decrease IgM and IgG secreted by B cells from healthy adults and patients with lupus. Subsequently, the data of the present invention suggest that CS1 plays an important role in the establishment of autoimmune diseases, especially SLE, IBD, and RA. Other diseases associated with an increase in immunoglobulin, B cells, and/or B cell products would also benefit from anti-CS1 treatment, including cold agglutinin disease, immunobullous diseases (including bullous pemphigoid, pemphigus, dermatitis herpetiformis, linear IgA disease, and epidermolysis bullosa acquista), mixed cryoglobulinemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, Sjogren's syndrome, autoimmune anemia, asthma, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, myocardial or pericardial inflammation, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen myxedematosus, and Gaucher's disease.

Moreover, studies have not been conducted before to examine the feasibility of using anti-CS1 antibodies for treating autoimmune diseases and plasma cell cancers, including myeloma and plasma cell leukemia. An ideal therapeutic antibody should bind primarily to the target cells. Binding to other cells and tissues can cause potential damage to those cells and tissues and/or deplete the therapeutic antibody so that an excess amount of the antibody is required to be delivered to the patient in order to achieve the desired treatment efficacy. More importantly, an antibody that binds to platelets may have side effects, such as, platelet activation (which can lead to excessive clotting), or platelet depletion (which can lead to failure of blood clotting). Therefore, it is usually not feasible to use an antibody as a therapeutic agent if the antibody binds to multiple cells and tissues, especially if it binds to platelets. The present invention is based in part on our discovery that there is no significant CS1 protein expression detected on platelets, red blood cells, HuVECs, kidney cells, bronchial airway cells, small airway cells, prostate cells, liver cells and breast cells. Accordingly, the present invention has demonstrated the feasibility of using anti-CS1 antibodies as therapeutic agents for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, and plasma cell cancers, including myeloma and plasma cell leukemia.

The present invention, therefore, is directed to antagonists that bind to CS1. Exemplary embodiments of such embodiments include neutralizing anti-CS1 antibodies and antibody fragments. The antibodies neutralize at least one biological activity of CS1, wherein said antibodies bind to CS1 and are capable of at least one of the activities selected from the group consisting of: (a) inhibiting immunoglobulin secretion and/or production by lymphocytes; and (b) inducing lysis of cells that express CS1. The antibody or antibody-fragments of the present invention comprise an amino acid sequence sharing at least 85% identity with any one of SEQ ID NOS:3-26. The present invention is also directed to an antibody or an antibody fragment, wherein said antibody or antibody fragment binds to substantially the same epitope as an antibody comprising an amino acid sequence of any one of SEQ ID NOS:3-26.

The present invention is also directed to an antibody or an antibody fragment, wherein said antibody comprises a mature heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3 and a mature light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.

The present invention is also directed to an antibody or an antibody fragment, wherein said antibody comprises a mature heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:5 and a mature light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:6.

The present invention is also directed to an antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein said antibody comprises a mature heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:7 and a mature light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:8.

The present invention is also directed to a heavy chain complementarity determining region (CDR) of an antibody comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 20, 21, or 22.

The present invention is also directed to a light chain complementarity determining region (CDR) of an antibody comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25.

The present invention is also directed to an antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein said antibody comprises a mature heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:27 and a mature light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28.

The present invention is also directed to a heavy chain complementarity determining region (CDR) of an antibody comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:29 and 30. The present invention is also directed to a light chain complementarity determining region (CDR) of an antibody comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30.

The present invention is also directed to a humanized antibody or the antigen-binding fragment thereof, wherein said antibody comprises a mature heavy chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NOS:27 or 34 and a mature light chain variable region comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:28 or 39. The present invention is also directed to a heavy chain complementarity determining region (CDR) of a humanized antibody comprising an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:31.

The present invention is also directed to antibodies that bind to substantially the same epitope of a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma cell line Luc90 having ATCC accession number PTA-5091 or bind to a non-overlapping epitope of a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma cell line having ATCC accession number PTA-5091.

The present invention is also directed to antibodies that bind to substantially the same epitope of a monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma cell line Luc63, deposited with the ATCC on May 6, 2004, or bind to a non-overlapping epitope of a monoclonal antibody produced by the hybridoma cell line Luc63.

The present invention is also directed to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the claimed antibody and a pharmaceutical carrier.

The present invention is also directed to a method of reducing immunoglobulin secretion by lymphocytes, comprising contacting the leukocytes or lymphocytes with an effective amount of anti-CS1 antibody.

The present invention is also directed to a method of inducing cytotoxicity of cells expressing CS1, comprising contacting said cells with an effective amount of an antibody against CS1.

The present invention is also directed to methods of using the antagonists of the present invention, such as anti-CS1 antibodies or antibody fragments, to prevent or treat autoimmune diseases, such as SLE and IBD, and cancer, such as myeloma, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering said subject with an effective amount of an antagonist of CS1. Preferably, these antibodies bind to substantially the same epitope of a monoclonal antibody produced by a hybridoma cell line having ATCC accession number PTA-5091 or having the designation Luc63.

The present invention also provides methods for determining the presence or absence of a pathological cell in a patient associated with autoimmune diseases and cancer, the method comprising detecting a nucleic acid comprising a sequence at least 80% identical, preferably 90% identical, more preferably 95% identical, to a sequence as described in Table 2, hereinafter referred to as CS1, in a biological sample from the patient, thereby determining the presence or absence of the pathological cell. The biological sample comprises isolated nucleic acids wherein the nucleic acids may be mRNA, DNA or other nucleic acids. The biological sample is tissue from an organ which is affected by the pathology, including autoimmune diseases, including SLE, RA, and IBD, and cancer, such as myeloma and plasma cell leukemia. A further step may incorporate the amplification of nucleic acids before the step of detecting the nucleic acid. The detecting is of a protein encoded by the nucleic acid, the nucleic acid comprising a CS1. The detecting step may be carried out by using a labeled nucleic acid probe. The detecting step may utilize a biochip comprising at sequence at least 80% identical to a CS1 sequence, preferably 90% identical, more preferably 95% identical, or detecting a polypeptide encoded by the nucleic acid. The biological sample may be derived from a patient who is undergoing a therapeutic regimen to treat the pathology, or is suspected of having an autoimmune disease or cancer pathology, including myeloma and plasma cell leukemia.

Compositions are also provided, e.g., an isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a CS1 sequence, including, e.g., those which are labeled; an expression vector comprising such nucleic acid; a host cell comprising such expression vector; an isolated polypeptide which is encoded by such a nucleic acid molecule comprising a CS1 sequence; or an antibody that specifically binds the polypeptide. In particular embodiments, the antibody is: conjugated to an effector component, is conjugated to a detectable label (including, e.g., a fluorescent label, a radioisotope, or a cytotoxic chemical), or is a humanized antibody.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Tables

Table 1 provides the results showing specific binding activities of a panel of CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

Table 2 provides the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences for CS-1.

Table 3A and 3B shows the results of anti-CS1 treatment in the reduction of IgG production by in vitro activated B-cell lymphocytes.

Table 4 provides amino acid sequences of the heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 3) and light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 4) of Luc90; the amino acid sequences of the heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 5) and light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 6) of Luc63; and the amino acid sequences of the heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 7) and light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO: 8) of Luc34. SEQ ID NOS: 9, 10 and 11 depict the amino acid sequences of the Luc90 heavy chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, respectively. SEQ ID NOS: 12, 13, and 14 depict the amino acid sequences of the Luc90 light chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, respectively. SEQ ID NOS: 15, 16, and 17 depict the amino acid sequences of the Luc63 heavy chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, respectively. SEQ ID NOS: 18, 19, and 20, depict the amino acid sequences of the Luc63 light chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, respectively. SEQ ID NOS: 21, 22, and 23, depict the amino acid sequences of the Luc34 heavy chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, respectively. SEQ ID NOS: 24, 25, and 26 depict the amino acid sequences of the Luc34 light chain CDR1, CDR2, and CDR3, respectively.

Table 5 provides amino acid sequences of the heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO:27) and light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO:28) of Luc 63. SEQ ID NOS:29-37 depict CDR's of the heavy chain and light chain variable region, respectively. SEQ ID NO:33 depicts the single amino acid mutation, from NYT to NYA (italicized), in CDR3 of the heavy chain variable region of Luc 63.

Table 6 provides amino acid sequences of the mouse heavy chain Luc 63 (SEQ ID NO:37), human heavy chain variable region cDNA (SEQ ID NO:39), human JH1 cDNA (SEQ ID NO:40) and humanized Luc 63 heavy chain variable region (SEQ ID NO:41). Also provided are amino acid sequences of the mouse light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO:42), human light chain variable region cDNA (SEQ ID NO:43) and humanized Luc 63 light chain variable region (SEQ ID NO:44).

Table 7 provides an alignment of the VH region amino acid sequences. The amino acid sequences of the VH regions of MuLuc63 and HuLuc63 (SEQ ID NOS:45 and 47, respectively), and the human cDNA E55 3-14 and JH1 segments (SEQ ID NO:46) are shown in single letter code. The CDR sequences are based on the definition of Kabat (Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)) are underlined in the MuLuc63 VH sequence; numbering is also according to Kabat. The CDR sequences in the human VH segment are omitted in the figure. The single underlined amino acids in the HuLuc63 VH sequence were predicted to contact the CDR sequences and therefore substituted with the corresponding mouse residues. The threonine (T) to alanine (A) mutation made in CDR2 to eliminate the potential N-linked glycosylation site (NYT) is indicated with a double underline.

Table 8 provides an alignment of the VL region amino acid sequences. The amino acid sequences of the VL regions of MuLuc63 and HuLuc63 (SEQ ID NOS:48 and 50, respectively), and the human cDNA III-2R sequence (SEQ ID NO:49) are shown in single letter code. The CDR sequences based on the definition of Kabat (Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)) are underlined in the MuLuc63 VL sequence; numbering is also according to Kabat. The CDR sequences in the human VL segment are omitted in the figure. The single underlined amino acids in the HuLuc63 VL sequence were predicted to contact the CDR sequences and therefore substituted with the corresponding mouse residue.

Table 9 lists the oligonucleotides used for the cloning of HuLuc63 VH and VL genes.

Figures

FIG. 1A shows CS1 expression predominantly in plasma and memory B cells.

FIG. 1B shows CS1 expression in kidney, heart, lymph node, liver, small intestine, brain, bone marrow, skeletal muscle, spleen and lung tissue samples.

FIG. 2A shows CS1 expression in leukocytes and other normal adult tissues.

FIG. 2B shows increased CS1 expression in multiple activated leukocyte populations.

FIG. 3 shows the results of competition assays of anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 4 shows the relative affinity of anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 5A shows immunohistological staining of CS1-expressing cells with three of the anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies (Luc 23, Luc 38, and Luc 63).

FIG. 5B shows immunohistological staining of inflamed tonsil with anti-CS1 and anti-CD138 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 5C shows immunohistological staining of synovial joint tissue from a rheumatoid arthritis patient with anti-CS1 and anti-CD138 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 6 shows cell surface staining of pokeweed mitogen treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells versus unstimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells with three of the anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies (Luc 63, Luc34, and Luc 38.)

FIG. 7 shows the binding activity of humanized Luc 63 (wild type NYT versus deglycosylated NYA mutation) in ELISA-based CS1-binding assays.

FIG. 8 shows a three-dimensional model of the variable region of humanized Luc 63.

FIG. 9 shows the up-regulation of the CS1 expression in activated peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes assayed by real time PCR analysis.

FIG. 10 shows the increased CS1 expression in SLE patient peripheral blood B lymphocytes compared to age-matched healthy adults assayed by real-time PCR analysis.

FIG. 11 shows a graphic representation of CS-1 expression compared to normal adult colonic epithelial cells in microarray experiments: CS-1 expression is increased in patients with ulcerative colitis (n=4) and Crohn's disease (n=5) as compared to normal adult colonic epithelial cells. Numbers over the bar symbols indicate the fold change over normal adult colonic epithelial cells for each sample.

FIG. 12 shows the upregulation of CS1 expression in inflammatory bowel disease patients with real time PCR quantification. CS-1 expression is increased in patents with ulcerative colitis (n=2) and Crohn's disease (n=3) as compared to pooled normal adult large intestine tissue samples. Numbers over the bar symbols indicate the fold change over normal adult large intestine tissue for each sample.

FIG. 13 shows the prominent expression of CS1 on myeloma cells.

FIG. 14A-14H shows the expression of CS1 in bone marrow plasma cells from multiple myeloma patients.

FIG. 14I shows the expression of CS1 on peripheral blood cells from a patient with plasma cell leukemia.

FIG. 15 shows the expression of CS1 on bone marrow cell subtypes.

FIG. 16 shows the inhibition of in vitro IgM secretion of activated PBMCs by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 17 shows the inhibition of in vitro IgM secretion of lymphocytes by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies compared to anti-CD2 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 18 shows the inhibition of in vitro IgG secretion of lymphocytes of healthy adult and autoimmune disease patients by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 19A shows the inhibition of in vivo human IgG production in SCID-HuPBMC mouse model by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 19B shows a comparison of inhibition of in vivo human IgG production in SCID-HuPBMC mouse model by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies Luc 90 and 63.

FIG. 19C shows a summary of the inhibition of in vivo human IgG production in SCID-HuPBMC mouse model by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 20 shows the induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies Luc90 and Luc63.

FIG. 21A shows induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity by anti-CS1 chimeric Luc90 monoclonal antibodies which is enhanced by chimeric antibodies with decreased levels of fucose.

FIG. 21B shows induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of multiple myeloma OPM2 cells by anti-CS1 chimeric Luc90 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 21C shows induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of multiple myeloma L363 cells by anti-CS1 chimeric Luc90 monoclonal antibodies.

FIG. 22 shows decreased tumor volumes in mouse xenograft multiple myeloma models treated with anti-CS1 antibodies Luc 90 and Luc 63 versus isotype control antibodies.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the objects outlined above, the present invention provides novel methods for treatment of various disorders, e.g., autoimmune disorders and various defined cancerous conditions, including various forms of myeloma. Also provided are methods for the diagnosis and prognosis evaluation of such disorders, as well as methods for screening for compositions which modulate such conditions. The present invention also provides methods of monitoring the therapeutic efficacy of such treatment, including the monitoring and screening of markers selectively expressed in said disorders.

In particular, identification of markers selectively expressed in autoimmune disorders, such as SLE, RA, and IBD, and cancerous conditions, such as myeloma and plasma cell leukemia, allows for use of that expression in diagnostic, prognostic, or therapeutic methods. As such, the invention defines various compositions, e.g., nucleic acids, polypeptides, antibodies, and small molecule agonists/antagonists, which will be useful to selectively identify those markers. The markers may be useful for molecular characterization of subsets of the diseases, which subsets may actually require very different treatments. Moreover, the markers may also be important in diseases related to autoimmune disorders, myeloma, and plasma cell leukemia, e.g., which affect similar tissues as in such conditions, or have similar mechanisms of induction/maintenance. For example, tumor processes or characteristics may also be targeted. Diagnostic and prognostic uses are made available, e.g., to subset related but distinct diseases, to differentiate stages of autoimmune disorders myeloma, or plasma cell leukemia or to determine treatment strategy of such conditions. The detection methods may be based upon nucleic acid, e.g., PCR or hybridization techniques, or protein, e.g., ELISA, imaging, IHC, etc. The diagnosis may be qualitative or quantitative, and may detect increases or decreases in expression levels.

DEFINITIONS

The term “CS1 protein” or “CS1 polynucleotide” or “CS1-associated transcript” refers to nucleic acid and polypeptide polymorphic variants, alleles, mutants, and interspecies homologues that: (1) have a nucleotide sequence that has greater than about 60% nucleotide sequence identity, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, preferably about 92%, 94%, 96%, 97%, 98%, or 99% or greater nucleotide sequence identity, preferably over a region of over a region of at least about 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, or more nucleotides, to a nucleotide sequence of or associated with the CS1 gene (Table 2), binding of the CS1 gene (Table 2) to binding partners, e.g., polyclonal antibodies, raised against an immunogen comprising an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence of or associated with the CS1 gene (Table 2), and conservatively modified variants thereof; (3) specifically hybridize under stringent hybridization conditions to a nucleic acid sequence, or the complement thereof of CS1 (Table 2) and conservatively modified variants thereof; or (4) have an amino acid sequence that has greater than about 60% amino acid sequence identity, 65%, 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, preferably 90%, 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%, or 99% or greater amino sequence identity, preferably over a region of over a region of at least about 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, or more amino acids, to an amino acid sequence encoded by a nucleotide sequence of or associated with the CS1 gene (Table 2). A polynucleotide or polypeptide sequence is typically from a mammal including, but not limited to, primate, e.g., human; rodent, e.g., rat, mouse, hamster; cow, pig, horse, sheep, or other mammal. A “CS1 polypeptide” and a “CS1 polynucleotide,” include both naturally occurring or recombinant forms.

A “full length” CS1 protein or nucleic acid refers to a CS1 polypeptide or polynucleotide sequence, or a variant thereof, that contains elements normally contained in one or more naturally occurring, wild type CS1 polynucleotide or polypeptide sequences. The “full length” may be prior to, or after, various stages of post-translational processing or splicing, including alternative splicing.

“Biological sample” as used herein is a sample of biological tissue or fluid that contains nucleic acids or polypeptides, e.g., of a CS1 protein, polynucleotide, or transcript. Such samples include, but are not limited to, tissue isolated from primates, e.g., humans, or rodents, e.g., mice, and rats. Biological samples may also include sections of tissues such as biopsy and autopsy samples, frozen sections taken for histologic purposes, archival samples, blood, plasma, serum, sputum, stool, tears, mucus, hair, skin, etc. Biological samples also include explants and primary and/or transformed cell cultures derived from patient tissues. A biological sample is typically obtained from a eukaryotic organism, most preferably a mammal such as a primate, e.g., chimpanzee or human; cow; dog; cat; a rodent, e.g., guinea pig, rat, mouse; rabbit; or a bird; reptile; or fish. Livestock and domestic animals are of interest.

“Providing a biological sample” means to obtain a biological sample for use in methods described in this invention. Most often, this will be done by removing a sample of cells from an animal, but can also be accomplished by using previously isolated cells (e.g., isolated by another person, at another time, and/or for another purpose), or by performing the methods of the invention in vivo. Archival tissues or materials, having treatment or outcome history, will be particularly useful.

The terms “identical” or percent “identity,” in the context of two or more nucleic acids or polypeptide sequences, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of amino acid residues or nucleotides that are the same (e.g., about 70% identity, preferably 75%, 80%, 85%, 90%, 91%, 93%, 95%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or higher identity over a specified region, when compared and aligned for maximum correspondence over a comparison window or designated region) as measured using, e.g., a BLAST or BLAST 2.0 sequence comparison algorithms with default parameters described below, or by manual alignment and visual inspection. Such sequences are then said to be “substantially identical.” This definition also refers to, or may be applied to, the complement of a test sequence. The definition also includes sequences that have deletions and/or insertions, substitutions, and naturally occurring, e.g., polymorphic or allelic variants, and man-made variants. As described below, the preferred algorithms can account for gaps and the like. Preferably, identity exists over a region that is at least about 25 amino acids or nucleotides in length, or more preferably over a region that is about 50-100 amino acids or nucleotides in length.

For sequence comparison, typically one sequence acts as a reference sequence, to which test sequences are compared. When using a sequence comparison algorithm, test and reference sequences are entered into a computer, subsequence coordinates are designated, if necessary, and sequence algorithm program parameters are designated. Preferably, default program parameters can be used, or alternative parameters can be designated. The sequence comparison algorithm then calculates the percent sequence identities for the test sequences relative to the reference sequence, based on the program parameters.

A “comparison window”, as used herein, includes reference to a segment of contiguous positions selected from the group consisting typically of from about 20 to 600, usually about 50 to 200, more usually about 100 to 150, in which a sequence may be compared to a reference sequence of the same number of contiguous positions after the two sequences are optimally aligned. Methods of alignment of sequences for comparison are well-known. Optimal alignment of sequences for comparison can be conducted, e.g., by the local homology algorithm of Smith and Waterman (1981) Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482-489, by the homology alignment algorithm of Needleman and Wunsch (1970) J. Mol. Biol. 48:443-453, by the search for similarity method of Pearson and Lipman (1988) Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444-2448, by computerized implementations of these algorithms (GAP, BESTFIT, FASTA, and TFASTA in the Wisconsin Genetics Software Package, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.), or by manual alignment and visual inspection (see, e.g., Ausubel, et al. (eds. 1995 and supplements) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology Wiley).

Preferred examples of algorithms that are suitable for determining percent sequence identity and sequence similarity include the BLAST and BLAST 2.0 algorithms, which are described in Altschul, et al. (1977) Nuc. Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 and Altschul, et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410. BLAST and BLAST 2.0 are used, with the parameters described herein, to determine percent sequence identity for the nucleic acids and proteins of the invention. Software for performing BLAST analyses is publicly available through the National Center for Biotechnology Information. This algorithm involves first identifying high scoring sequence pairs (HSPs) by identifying short words of length W in the query sequence, which either match or satisfy some positive-valued threshold score T when aligned with a word of the same length in a database sequence. T is referred to as the neighborhood word score threshold (Altschul, et al., supra). These initial neighborhood word hits act as seeds for initiating searches to find longer HSPs containing them. The word hits are extended in both directions along each sequence for as far as the cumulative alignment score can be increased. Cumulative scores are calculated using, e.g., for nucleotide sequences, the parameters M (reward score for a pair of matching residues; always >0) and N (penalty score for mismatching residues; always <0). For amino acid sequences, a scoring matrix is used to calculate the cumulative score. Extension of the word hits in each direction are halted when: the cumulative alignment score falls off by the quantity X from its maximum achieved value; the cumulative score goes to zero or below, due to the accumulation of one or more negative-scoring residue alignments; or the end of either sequence is reached. The BLAST algorithm parameters W, T, and X determine the sensitivity and speed of the alignment. The BLASTN program (for nucleotide sequences) uses as defaults a wordlength (W) of 11, an expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4 and a comparison of both strands. For amino acid sequences, the BLASTP program uses as defaults a wordlength of 3, and expectation (E) of 10, and the BLOSUM62 scoring matrix (see Henikoff and Henikoff (1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 89:10915-919) alignments (B) of 50, expectation (E) of 10, M=5, N=−4, and a comparison of both strands.

The BLAST algorithm also performs a statistical analysis of the similarity between two sequences. See, e.g., Karlin and Altschul (1993) Proc. Nat'l. Acad. Sci. USA 90:5873-5787. One measure of similarity provided by the BLAST algorithm is the smallest sum probability (P(N)), which provides an indication of the probability by which a match between two nucleotide or amino acid sequences would occur by chance. For example, a nucleic acid is considered similar to a reference sequence if the smallest sum probability in a comparison of the test nucleic acid to the reference nucleic acid is less than about 0.2, more preferably less than about 0.01, and most preferably less than about 0.001. Log values may be negative large numbers, e.g., 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 40, 70, 90, 110, 150, 170, etc.

An indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the polypeptide encoded by the first nucleic acid is immunologically cross reactive with the antibodies raised against the polypeptide encoded by the second nucleic acid. Thus, a polypeptide is typically substantially identical to a second polypeptide, e.g., where the two peptides differ only by conservative substitutions. Another indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the two molecules or their complements hybridize to each other under stringent conditions. Yet another indication that two nucleic acid sequences are substantially identical is that the same primers can be used to amplify the sequences.

A “host cell” is a naturally occurring cell or a transformed cell that contains an expression vector and supports the replication or expression of the expression vector. Host cells may be cultured cells, explants, cells in vivo, and the like. Host cells may be prokaryotic cells such as E. coli, or eukaryotic cells such as yeast, insect, amphibian, or mammalian cells such as CHO, HeLa, and the like (see, e.g., the American Type Culture Collection catalog or web site).

The terms “isolated,” “purified,” or “biologically pure” refer to material that is substantially or essentially free from components that normally accompany it as found in its native state. Purity and homogeneity are typically determined using analytical chemistry techniques such as polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or high performance liquid chromatography. A protein or nucleic acid that is the predominant species present in a preparation is substantially purified. In particular, an isolated nucleic acid is separated from some open reading frames that naturally flank the gene and encode proteins other than protein encoded by the gene. The term “purified” in some embodiments denotes that a nucleic acid or protein gives rise to essentially one band in an electrophoretic gel. Preferably, it means that the nucleic acid or protein is at least about 85% pure, more preferably at least 95% pure, and most preferably at least 99% pure. “Purify” or “purification” in other embodiments means removing at least one contaminant or component from the composition to be purified. In this sense, purification does not require that the purified compound be homogeneous, e.g., 100% pure.

The terms “polypeptide,” “peptide,” and “protein” are used interchangeably herein to refer to a polymer of amino acid residues. The terms apply to amino acid polymers in which one or more amino acid residue is an artificial chemical mimetic of a corresponding naturally occurring amino acid, as well as to naturally occurring amino acid polymers, those containing modified residues, and non-naturally occurring amino acid polymers.

The term “amino acid” refers to naturally occurring and synthetic amino acids, as well as amino acid analogs and amino acid mimetics that function similarly to the naturally occurring amino acids. Naturally occurring amino acids are those encoded by the genetic code, as well as those amino acids that are later modified, e.g., hydroxyproline, γ-carboxyglutamate, and O-phosphoserine. Amino acid analogs refers to compounds that have the same basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid, e.g., an a carbon that is bound to a hydrogen, a carboxyl group, an amino group, and an R group, e.g., homoserine, norleucine, methionine sulfoxide, methionine methyl sulfonium. Such analogs may have modified R groups (e.g., norleucine) or modified peptide backbones, but retain some basic chemical structure as a naturally occurring amino acid. Amino acid mimetic refers to a chemical compound that has a structure that is different from the general chemical structure of an amino acid, but that functions similarly to another amino acid.

Amino acids may be referred to herein by either their commonly known three letter symbols or by the one-letter symbols recommended by the IUPAC-IUB Biochemical Nomenclature Commission. Nucleotides, likewise, may be referred to by their commonly accepted single-letter codes.

“Conservatively modified variant” applies to both amino acid and nucleic acid sequences. With respect to particular nucleic acid sequences, conservatively modified variants refers to those nucleic acids which encode identical or essentially identical amino acid sequences, or where the nucleic acid does not encode an amino acid sequence, to essentially identical or associated, e.g., naturally contiguous, sequences. Because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, a large number of functionally identical nucleic acids encode most proteins. For instance, the codons GCA, GCC, GCG, and GCU each encode the amino acid alanine. Thus, at each position where an alanine is specified by a codon, the codon can be altered to another of the corresponding codons described without altering the encoded polypeptide. Such nucleic acid variations are “silent variations,” which are one species of conservatively modified variations. Every nucleic acid sequence herein which encodes a polypeptide also describes silent variations of the nucleic acid. In certain contexts each codon in a nucleic acid (except AUG, which is ordinarily the only codon for methionine, and TGG, which is ordinarily the only codon for tryptophan) can be modified to yield a functionally similar molecule. Accordingly, a silent variation of a nucleic acid which encodes a polypeptide is implicit in a described sequence with respect to the expression product, but not necessarily with respect to actual probe sequences.

As to amino acid sequences, one of skill will recognize that individual substitutions, deletions, or additions to a nucleic acid, peptide, polypeptide, or protein sequence which alters, adds, or deletes a single amino acid or a small percentage of amino acids in the encoded sequence is a “conservatively modified variant” where the alteration results in the substitution of an amino acid with a chemically similar amino acid. Conservative substitution table providing functionally similar amino acids are well known. Such conservatively modified variants are in addition to and do not exclude polymorphic variants, interspecies homologs, and alleles of the invention. Typically conservative substitutions include for one another: 1) Alanine (A), Glycine (G); 2) Aspartic acid (D), Glutamic acid (E); 3) Asparagine (N), Glutamine (Q); 4) Arginine (R), Lysine (K); 5) Isoleucine (I), Leucine (L), Methionine (M), Valine (V); 6) Phenylalanine (F), Tyrosine (Y), Tryptophan (W); 7) Serine (S), Threonine (T); and 8) Cysteine (C), Methionine (M) (see, e.g., Creighton (1984) Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties Freeman).

Macromolecular structures such as polypeptide structures can be described in terms of various levels of organization. For a general discussion of this organization, see, e.g., Alberts, et al. (eds. 2001) Molecular Biology of the Cell (4th ed.) Garland; and Cantor and Schimmel (1980) Biophysical Chemistry Part I: The Conformation of Biological Macromolecules Freeman. “Primary structure” refers to the amino acid sequence of a particular peptide. “Secondary structure” refers to locally ordered, three dimensional structures within a polypeptide. These structures are commonly known as domains. Domains are portions of a polypeptide that often form a compact unit of the polypeptide and are typically 25 to approximately 500 amino acids long. Typical domains are made up of sections of lesser organization such as stretches of β-sheet and α-helices. “Tertiary structure” refers to the complete three dimensional structure of a polypeptide monomer. “Quaternary structure” refers to the three dimensional structure formed, usually by the noncovalent association of independent tertiary units. Anisotropic terms are also known as energy terms.

“Nucleic acid” or “oligonucleotide” or “polynucleotide” or grammatical equivalents used herein means at least two nucleotides covalently linked together. Oligonucleotides are typically from about 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 25, 30, 40, 50, or more nucleotides in length, up to about 100 nucleotides in length. Nucleic acids and polynucleotides are a polymers of any length, including longer lengths, e.g., 200, 300, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000, 7000, 10,000, etc. A nucleic acid of the present invention will generally contain phosphodiester bonds, although in some cases, nucleic acid analogs are included that may have at least one different linkage, e.g., phosphoramidate, phosphorothioate, phosphorodithioate, or O-methylphosphoroamidite linkages (see Eckstein (1992) Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach Oxford Univ. Press); and peptide nucleic acid backbones and linkages. Other analog nucleic acids include those with positive backbones; non-ionic backbones, and non-ribose backbones, including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,235,033 and 5,034,506, and Chapters 6 and 7 of Sanghvi and Cook (eds. 1994) Carbohydrate Modifications in Antisense Research ACS Symposium Series 580. Nucleic acids containing one or more carbocyclic sugars are also included within one definition of nucleic acids. Modifications of the ribose-phosphate backbone may be done for a variety of reasons, e.g., to increase the stability and half-life of such molecules in physiological environments or as probes on a biochip. Mixtures of naturally occurring nucleic acids and analogs can be made; alternatively, mixtures of different nucleic acid analogs, and mixtures of naturally occurring nucleic acids and analogs may be made.

A variety of references disclose such nucleic acid analogs, including, e.g., phosphoramidate (Beaucage, et al. (1993) Tetrahedron 49:1925-1963 and references therein; Letsinger (1970) J. Org. Chem. 35:3800-3803; Sprinzl, et al. (1977) Eur. J. Biochem. 81:579-589; Letsinger, et al. (1986) Nucl. Acids Res. 14:3487-499; Sawai, et al. (1984) Chem. Lett. 805, Letsinger, et al. (1988) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110:4470-4471; and Pauwels, et al. (1986) Chemica Scripta 26:141-149), phosphorothioate (Mag, et al. (1991) Nucleic Acids Res. 19:1437-441; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,644,048), phosphorodithioate (Brill, et al. (1989) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 111:2321-2322), O-methylphosphoroamidite linkages (see Eckstein (1992) Oligonucleotides and Analogues: A Practical Approach, Oxford Univ. Press), and peptide nucleic acid backbones and linkages (see Egholm (1992) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 114:1895-1897; Meier, et al. (1992) Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 31:1008-1010; Nielsen (1993) Nature 365:566-568; Carlsson, et al. (1996) Nature 380:207, all of which are incorporated by reference). Other analog nucleic acids include those with positive backbones (Denpcy, et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 92:6097-101; non-ionic backbones (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,386,023, 5,637,684, 5,602,240, 5,216,141, and 4,469,863; Kiedrowski, et al. (1991) Angew. Chem. Intl. Ed. English 30:423-426; Letsinger, et al. (1988) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110:4470-4471; Letsinger, et al. (1994) Nucleoside and Nucleotide 13:1597; Chapters 2 and 3 in Sanghvi and Cook (eds. 1994) Carbohydrate Modifications in Antisense Research ACS Symposium Series 580; Mesmaeker, et al. (1994) Bioorganic and Medicinal Chem. Lett. 4:395-398; Jeffs, et al. (1994) J. Biomolecular NMR 34:17; Horn, et al. (1996) Tetrahedron Lett. 37:743) and non-ribose backbones, including those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,235,033 and 5,034,506, and Chapters 6 and 7 in Sanghvi and Cook (eds. 1994) Carbohydrate Modifications in Antisense Research ACS Symposium Series 580. Nucleic acids containing one or more carbocyclic sugars are also included within one definition of nucleic acids (see Jenkins, et al. (1995) Chem. Soc. Rev. pp 169-176). Several nucleic acid analogs are described in Rawls (page 35, Jun. 2, 1997) C&E News.

Particularly preferred are peptide nucleic acids (PNA) which includes peptide nucleic acid analogs. Peptide nucleic acids have backbones made from repeating N-(2-aminoethyl)-glycine units linked by peptide bonds. The different bases (purines and pyrimidines) are linked to the backbone by methylene carbonyl linkages. These backbones are substantially non-ionic under neutral conditions, in contrast to the highly charged phosphodiester backbone of naturally occurring nucleic acids. This results in at least two advantages. The PNA backbone exhibits improved hybridization kinetics, resulting in stronger binding between the PNA/DNA strands, than between PNA strands and DNA strands. PNAs have larger changes in the melting temperature (T_(m)) for mismatched versus perfectly matched basepairs. DNA and RNA typically exhibit a 2-4° C. drop in T_(m) for an internal mismatch. With the non-ionic PNA backbone, the drop is closer to 7-9° C. Similarly, due to their non-ionic nature, hybridization of the bases attached to these backbones is relatively insensitive to salt concentration. In addition, PNAs are not degraded by cellular enzymes, and thus can be more stable.

The nucleic acids may be single stranded or double stranded, as specified, or contain portions of both double stranded or single stranded sequence. The depiction of a single strand also defines the sequence of the complementary strand; thus the sequences described herein also provide the complement of the sequence. The nucleic acid may be DNA, both genomic and cDNA, RNA, or a hybrid, where the nucleic acid may contain combinations of deoxyribo- and ribo-nucleotides, and combinations of bases, including uracil, adenine, thymine, cytosine, guanine, inosine, xanthine hypoxanthine, isocytosine, isoguanine, etc. “Transcript” typically refers to a naturally occurring RNA, e.g., a pre-mRNA, hnRNA, or mRNA. As used herein, the term “nucleoside” includes nucleotides and nucleoside and nucleotide analogs, and modified nucleosides such as amino modified nucleosides. In addition, “nucleoside” includes non-naturally occurring analog structures. Thus, e.g., the individual units of a peptide nucleic acid, each containing a base, are referred to herein as a nucleoside.

A “label” or a “detectable moiety” is a composition detectable by spectroscopic, photochemical, biochemical, immunochemical, physiological, chemical, or other physical means. In general, labels fall into three classes: a) isotopic labels, which may be radioactive or heavy isotopes; b) immune labels, which may be antibodies, antigens, or epitope tags; and c) colored or fluorescent dyes. The labels may be incorporated into CS1 nucleic acids, proteins, and antibodies. For example, the label should be capable of producing, either directly or indirectly, a detectable signal. The detectable moiety may be a radioisotope, such as ³H, ¹⁴C, ³²P, ³⁵S, or ¹²⁵I, electron-dense reagents, a fluorescent or chemiluminescent compound, such as fluorescein isothiocyanate, rhodamine, or luciferin, or an enzyme (e.g., as commonly used in an ELISA), biotin, digoxigenin, or haptens and proteins or other entities which can be made detectable such as alkaline phosphatase, beta-galactosidase, or horseradish peroxidase. Methods are known for conjugating the antibody to the label. See, e.g., Hunter, et al. (1962) Nature 144:945; David, et al. (1974) Biochemistry 13:1014-1021; Pain, et al. (1981) J. Immunol. Meth. 40:219-230; and Nygren (1982) J. Histochem. and Cytochem. 30:407-412.

An “effector” or “effector moiety” or “effector component” is a molecule that is bound (or linked, or conjugated), either covalently, through a linker or a chemical bond, or noncovalently, through ionic, van der Waals, electrostatic, or hydrogen bonds, to an antibody. The “effector” can be a variety of molecules including, e.g., detection moieties including radioactive compounds, fluorescent compounds, enzymes or substrates, tags such as epitope tags, toxins; activatable moieties, chemotherapeutic agents; lipases; antibiotics; chemoattracting moieties, immune modulators (micA/B), or radioisotopes, e.g., emitting “hard” beta, radiation.

A “labeled nucleic acid probe or oligonucleotide” is one that is bound, e.g., covalently, through a linker or a chemical bond, or noncovalently, through ionic, van der Waals, electrostatic, or hydrogen bonds to a label such that the presence of the probe may be detected by detecting the presence of the label bound to the probe. Alternatively, methods using high affinity interactions may achieve the same results where one of a pair of binding partners binds to the other, e.g., biotin, streptavidin.

As used herein a “nucleic acid probe or oligonucleotide” is a nucleic acid capable of binding to a target nucleic acid of complementary sequence through one or more types of chemical bonds, usually through complementary base pairing, e.g., through hydrogen bond formation. As used herein, a probe may include natural (e.g., A, G, C, or T) or modified bases (7-deazaguanosine, inosine, etc.). In addition, the bases in a probe may be joined by a linkage other than a phosphodiester bond, preferably one that does not functionally interfere with hybridization. Thus, e.g., probes may be peptide nucleic acids in which the constituent bases are joined by peptide bonds rather than phosphodiester linkages. Probes may bind target sequences lacking complete complementarity with the probe sequence depending upon the stringency of the hybridization conditions. The probes are preferably directly labeled, e.g., with isotopes, chromophores, lumiphores, chromogens, or indirectly labeled, e.g., with biotin to which a streptavidin complex may later bind. By assaying for the presence or absence of the probe, one can detect the presence or absence of the select sequence or subsequence. Diagnosis or prognosis may be based at the genomic level, or at the level of RNA or protein expression.

The term “recombinant” when used with reference, e.g., to a cell, or nucleic acid, protein, or vector, indicates that the cell, nucleic acid, protein, or vector, has been modified by the introduction of a heterologous nucleic acid or protein or the alteration of a native nucleic acid or protein, or that the cell is derived from a cell so modified. Thus, e.g., recombinant cells express genes that are not found within the native (non-recombinant) form of the cell or express native genes that are otherwise abnormally expressed, under expressed, or not expressed at all. By the term “recombinant nucleic acid” herein is meant nucleic acid, originally formed in vitro, in general, by the manipulation of nucleic acid, e.g., using polymerases and endonucleases, in a form not normally found in nature. In this manner, operably linkage of different sequences is achieved. Thus an isolated nucleic acid, in a linear form, or an expression vector formed in vitro by ligating DNA molecules that are not normally joined, are both considered recombinant for the purposes of this invention. It is understood that once a recombinant nucleic acid is made and reintroduced into a host cell or organism, it will replicate non-recombinantly, e.g., using the in vivo cellular machinery of the host cell rather than in vitro manipulations; however, such nucleic acids, once produced recombinantly, although subsequently replicated non-recombinantly, are still considered recombinant for the purposes of the invention.

Similarly, a “recombinant protein” is a protein made using recombinant techniques, e.g., through the expression of a recombinant nucleic acid as depicted above. A recombinant protein is distinguished from naturally occurring protein by at least one or more characteristics. The protein may be isolated or purified away from some or most of the proteins and compounds with which it is normally associated in its wild type host, and thus may be substantially pure. An isolated protein is unaccompanied by at least some of the material with which it is normally associated in its natural state, preferably constituting at least about 0.5%, more preferably at least about 5% by weight of the total protein in a given sample. A substantially pure protein comprises at least about 75% by weight of the total protein, with at least about 80% being preferred, and at least about 90% being particularly preferred. The definition includes the production of a CS1 protein from one organism in a different organism or host cell. Alternatively, the protein may be made at a significantly higher concentration than is normally seen, through the use of an inducible promoter or high expression promoter, such that the protein is made at increased concentration levels. Alternatively, the protein may be in a form not normally found in nature, as in the addition of an epitope tag or amino acid substitutions, insertions and deletions, as discussed below.

The term “heterologous” when used with reference to portions of a nucleic acid indicates that the nucleic acid comprises two or more subsequences that are not normally found in the same relationship to each other in nature. For instance, the nucleic acid is typically recombinantly produced, having two or more sequences, e.g., from unrelated genes arranged to make a new functional nucleic acid, e.g., a promoter from one source and a coding region from another source. Similarly, a heterologous protein will often refer to two or more subsequences that are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature (e.g., a fusion protein).

A “promoter” is typically an array of nucleic acid control sequences that direct transcription of a nucleic acid. As used herein, a promoter includes necessary nucleic acid sequences near the start site of transcription, such as, in the case of a polymerase II type promoter, a TATA element. A promoter also optionally includes distal enhancer or repressor elements, which can be located as much as several thousand base pairs from the start site of transcription. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active under most environmental and developmental conditions. An “inducible” promoter is active under environmental or developmental regulation. The term “operably linked” refers to a functional linkage between a nucleic acid expression control sequence (such as a promoter, or array of transcription factor binding sites) and a second nucleic acid sequence, e.g., wherein the expression control sequence directs transcription of the nucleic acid corresponding to the second sequence.

An “expression vector” is a nucleic acid construct, generated recombinantly or synthetically, with a series of specified nucleic acid elements that permit transcription of a particular nucleic acid in a host cell. The expression vector can be part of a plasmid, virus, or nucleic acid fragment. Typically, the expression vector includes a nucleic acid to be transcribed in operable linkage to a promoter.

The phrase “selectively (or specifically) hybridizes to” refers to the binding, duplexing, or hybridizing of a molecule selectively to a particular nucleotide sequence under stringent hybridization conditions when that sequence is present in a complex mixture (e.g., total cellular or library DNA or RNA).

The phrase “stringent hybridization conditions” refers to conditions under which a probe will hybridize to its target subsequence, typically in a complex mixture of nucleic acids, but to no other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances. Longer sequences hybridize specifically at higher temperatures. An extensive guide to the hybridization of nucleic acids is found in “Overview of principles of hybridization and the strategy of nucleic acid assays” in Tijssen (1993) Hybridization with Nucleic Probes (Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) (vol. 24) Elsevier. Generally, stringent conditions are selected to be about 5-10° C. lower than the thermal melting point (T_(m)) for the specific sequence at a defined ionic strength pH. The T_(m) is the temperature (under defined ionic strength, pH, and nucleic concentration) at which 50% of the probes complementary to the target hybridize to the target sequence at equilibrium (as the target sequences are present in excess, at T_(m), 50% of the probes are occupied at equilibrium). Stringent conditions will be those in which the salt concentration is less than about 1.0 M sodium ion, typically about 0.01-1.0 M sodium ion concentration (or other salts) at pH 7.0 to 8.3 and the temperature is at least about 30° C. for short probes (e.g., about 10-50 nucleotides) and at least about 60° C. for long probes (e.g., greater than about 50 nucleotides). Stringent conditions may also be achieved with the addition of destabilizing agents such as formamide. For selective or specific hybridization, a positive signal is typically at least two times background, preferably 10 times background hybridization. Exemplary stringent hybridization conditions can be as following: 50% formamide, 5×SSC, and 1% SDS, incubating at 42° C., or, 5×SSC, 1% SDS, incubating at 65° C., with wash in 0.2×SSC, and 0.1% SDS at 65° C. For PCR, a temperature of about 36° C. is typical for low stringency amplification, although annealing temperatures may vary between about 32°-48° C. depending on primer length. For high stringency PCR amplification, a temperature of about 62° C. is typical, although high stringency annealing temperatures can range from about 50-65° C., depending on the primer length and specificity. Typical cycle conditions for both high and low stringency amplifications include a denaturation phase of 90-95° C. for 30-120 sec, an annealing phase lasting 30-120 sec, and an extension phase of about 72° C. for 1-2 min. Protocols and guidelines for low and high stringency amplification reactions are provided, e.g., in Innis, et al. (1990) PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications Academic Press, NY.

Nucleic acids that do not hybridize to each other under stringent conditions are still substantially identical if the polypeptides which they encode are substantially identical. This occurs, e.g., when a copy of a nucleic acid is created using the maximum codon degeneracy permitted by the genetic code. In such cases, the nucleic acids typically hybridize under moderately stringent hybridization conditions. Exemplary “moderately stringent hybridization conditions” include a hybridization in a buffer of 40% formamide, 1 M NaCl, 1% SDS at 37° C., and a wash in 1×SSC at 45° C. A positive hybridization is typically at least twice background. Alternative hybridization and wash conditions can be utilized to provide conditions of similar stringency. Additional guidelines for determining hybridization parameters are provided in numerous references, e.g., Ausubel, et al. (eds. 1991 and supplements) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology Wiley.

The phrase “changes in cell morphology” or “changes in cellular characteristics” refers to any change in cell morphology or proliferation characteristics in vitro or in vivo, such as cell viability, cell growth, secretion of growth or chemokine factors, changes in cell morphology, gaining or losing inflammation-specific markers, ability to induce or suppress inflammation when injected into suitable animal hosts, and/or induction of a disease state in suitable hosts, e.g. autoimmune disorders and cancerous conditions. See, e.g., pp. 231-241 in Freshney (1994) Culture of Animal Cells a Manual of Basic Technique (2d ed.) Wiley-Liss.

“Diseased cells” refers to spontaneous or induced phenotypic changes that do not necessarily involve the uptake of new genetic material. For example, although myeloma formation can arise from infection with a transforming virus and incorporation of new genomic DNA, or uptake of exogenous DNA, it can also arise spontaneously or following exposure to an agent, thereby inducing expression or alteration of an existing gene. Tumor growth is associated with phenotypic and protein expression changes, such as morphological changes, aberrant cell growth, and/or nonmorphological changes. See, Freshney (2000) Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique (4th ed.) Wiley-Liss. Similarly, cells affected by autoimmune disease processes are also associated with phenotypic and protein expression changes.

By “an effective” amount of a molecule, or an antibody, or a drug or pharmacologically active agent or pharmaceutical formulation is meant a sufficient amount of the molecule, antibody, drug, agent or formulation to provide the desired effect. A “subject” or “patient” is used interchangeably herein, which refers to a vertebrate, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human.

As used herein, the term “antibody” or “immunoglobulin” refers to a protein consisting of one or more polypeptides substantially encoded by immunoglobulin genes. The recognized immunoglobulin genes include the kappa, lambda, alpha, gamma (IgG₁, IgG₂, IgG₃, IgG₄), delta, epsilon and mu constant region genes, as well as the myriad immunoglobulin variable V region genes (as indicated below, there are V genes for both H-heavy- and L-light-chains). Full-length immunoglobulin “light chains” (about 25 Kd or 214 amino acids) are encoded by a variable region gene, V-kappa or V-lambda, at the NH2-terminus (about 110 amino acids) and, respectively, a kappa or lambda constant region gene at the COOH-terminus. Full-length immunoglobulin “heavy chains” (about 50 Kd or 446 amino acids), are similarly encoded by a variable region gene (about 116 amino acids) and one of the other aforementioned constant region genes, e.g., gamma (encoding about 330 amino acids).

One form of immunoglobulin constitutes the basic structural unit of an antibody. This form is a tetramer and consists of two identical pairs of immunoglobulin chains, each pair having one light and one heavy chain. In each pair, the light and heavy chain variable regions are together responsible for binding to an antigen, and the constant regions are responsible for the antibody effector functions. In addition to the tetrameric antibodies, immunoglobulins may exist in a variety of other forms including, for example, Fv, Fab, and (Fab′)₂, as well as bifunctional hybrid antibodies (e.g., Lanzavecchia et al., Eur. J. Immunol. 17, 105 (1987)) and in single chains (e.g., Huston et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 85, 5879-5883 (1988) and Bird et al., Science, 242, 423-426 (1988), which are incorporated herein by reference). (See, generally, Hood et al., “Immunology”, Benjamin, N.Y., 2nd ed. (1984), and Hunkapiller and Hood, Nature, 323, 15-16 (1986), which are incorporated herein by reference).

Antibodies also exist, e.g., as a number of well-characterized fragments produced by digestion with various peptidases. Thus, e.g., pepsin digests an antibody below the disulfide linkages in the hinge region to produce F(ab)′₂, a dimer of Fab which itself is a light chain joined to V_(H)-C_(H)1 by a disulfide bond. The F(ab)′₂ may be reduced under mild conditions to break the disulfide linkage in the hinge region, thereby converting the F(ab)′₂ dimer into an Fab′ monomer. The Fab′ monomer is essentially Fab with part of the hinge region (see Paul (ed. 1999) Fundamental Immunology (4th ed.) Raven. While various antibody fragments are defined in terms of the digestion of an intact antibody, one of skill will appreciate that such fragments may be synthesized de novo either chemically or by using recombinant DNA methodology. Thus, the term antibody, as used herein, also includes antibody fragments either produced by the modification of whole antibodies, or those synthesized de novo using recombinant DNA methodologies (e.g., single chain Fv) or those identified using phage display libraries (see, e.g., McCafferty, et al. (1990) Nature 348:552-554).

A “chimeric antibody” is an antibody molecule in which (a) the constant region, or a portion thereof, is altered, replaced, or exchanged so that the antigen binding site (variable region) is linked to a constant region of a different or altered class, and/or species, or an entirely different molecule which confers new properties to the chimeric antibody, e.g., an enzyme, toxin, hormone, growth factor, drug, effector function, chemoattractant, immune modulator, etc.; or (b) the variable region, or a portion thereof, is altered, replaced, or exchanged with a variable region having a different or altered antigen specificity.

The term “humanized antibody” or “humanized immunoglobulin” refers to an immunoglobulin comprising a human framework, at least one and preferably all complementarity determining regions (CDRs) from a non-human antibody, and in which any constant region present is substantially identical to a human immunoglobulin constant region, i.e., at least about 85-90%, preferably at least 95% identical. Hence, all parts of a humanized immunoglobulin, except possibly the CDRs, are substantially identical to corresponding parts of one or more native human immunoglobulin sequences. See, e.g. Queen et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,5301,101; 5,585,089; 5,693,762; and 6,180,370 (These and the other U.S. patents/patent applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety).

For preparation of antibodies, e.g., recombinant, monoclonal, or polyclonal antibodies, many techniques known. See, e.g., Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature 256:495-497; Kozbor, et al. (1983) Immunology Today 4:72; Cole, et al. (1985) pp. 77-96 in Reisfeld and Sell (1985) Monoclonal Antibodies and Myeloma Therapy Liss; Coligan (1991) Current Protocols in Immunology Lippincott; Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual CSH Press; and Goding (1986) Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice (2d ed.) Academic Press. Techniques for the production of single chain antibodies (U.S. Pat. No. 4,946,778) can be adapted to produce antibodies to polypeptides of this invention. Also, transgenic mice, or other organisms such as other mammals, may be used to express humanized antibodies. Alternatively, phage display technology can be used to identify antibodies and heteromeric Fab fragments that specifically bind to selected antigens. See, e.g., McCafferty, et al. (1990) Nature 348:552-554; Marks, et al. (1992) Biotechnology 10:779-783.

The term “epitope” refers to any portion (determinant) of a protein that is capable of eliciting an immune response and being specifically bound by an antibody. Epitope determinants usually consist of active surface groupings of molecules such as amino acids or GAG side chains and usually have specific three-dimensional structural characteristics, as well as specific charge characteristics. Two antibodies are said to bind to substantially the same epitope of a protein (or the overlapping epitope of a protein) if amino acid mutations in the protein that reduce or eliminate binding of one antibody also reduce or eliminate binding of the other antibody, and/or if the antibodies compete for binding to the protein, i.e., binding of one antibody to the protein reduces or eliminates binding of the other antibody. The determination of whether two antibodies bind substantially to the same epitope is accomplished by the methods known in the art, such as a competition assay. In conducting an antibody competition study between a control antibody (for example, one of the anti-CS1 antibodies described herein) and any test antibody, one may first label the control antibody with a detectable label, such as, biotin, enzymatic, radioactive label, or fluorescent label to enable the subsequent identification. A test (unlabeled) antibody that binds to substantially the same epitope as the control (labeled) antibody should be able to block control antibody binding and thus should reduce control antibody binding.

In an exemplary embodiment, if an antibody binds substantially to the same epitope of a Luc monoclonal antibody (Luc monoclonal antibodies refer to the produced anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies of the present invention), the antibody should bind to an epitope of CS1 that overlaps with the CS1 epitope that the Luc monoclonal antibody binds to. The overlapping region can range from one amino acid residue to several hundred amino acid residues. This antibody should then compete with and/or block the binding of the Luc monoclonal antibody to CS1 and thereby decrease the binding of the Luc monoclonal antibody to CS1, preferably by at least about 50% in a competition assay.

The term “derived from” means “obtained from” or “produced by” or “descending from”.

CS1 Antigens and Antibodies

SEQ ID NO:2 depicts the amino acid sequences of the full-length wild-type human CS1. A “functionally active” CS1 fragment or derivative exhibits one or more functional activities associated with a full-length, wild-type CS1 protein, such as antigenic or immunogenic activity, ability to bind natural cellular substrates, etc. The functional activity of CS1 proteins, derivatives and fragments can be assayed by various methods known to one skilled in the art (Current Protocols in Protein Science, Coligan et al., eds., John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Somerset, N.J. (1998)). For purposes herein, functionally active fragments also include those fragments that comprise one or more structural domains of a CS1 polypeptide, such as a binding domain. Protein domains can be identified using the PFAM program (Bateman A., et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 27: 260-2 (1999)).

CS1 polypeptide derivatives typically share a certain degree of sequence identity or sequence similarity with SEQ ID NO:2 or a fragment thereof. CS1 derivatives can be produced by various methods known in the art. The manipulations that result in their production can occur at the gene or protein level. For example, a cloned CS1 gene sequence (e.g. SEQ ID NO:1) can be cleaved at appropriate sites with restriction endonuclease(s) (Wells et al., Philos. Trans. R. Sot. London SerA 317: 415 (1986)), followed by further enzymatic modification, if desired, then isolated, and ligated in vitro, and expressed to produce the desired derivative. Alternatively, a CS1 gene can be mutated in vitro or in vivo to create and/or destroy translation, initiation, and/or termination sequences, or to create variations in coding regions and/or to form new restriction endonuclease sites or destroy preexisting ones, to facilitate further in vitro modification. A variety of mutagenesis techniques are known in the art such as chemical mutagenesis, in vitro site-directed mutagenesis (Carter et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 13: 4331 (1986)), or use of TAB linkers (available from Pfizer, Inc.).

In one aspect, the antibodies of the present invention neutralize at least one, or preferably all, biological activities of CS1. The biological activities of CS1 include: 1) binding activities of its cellular substrates, such as its ligands (for instance, these neutralizing antibodies should be capable of competing with or completely blocking the binding of CS1 to at least one, and preferably all, of its ligands); 2) signaling transduction activities; and 3) cellular responses induced by CS1.

The present invention provides for the hybridoma cell lines: Luc2, Luc3, Luc15, Luc22, Luc23, Luc29, Luc32, Luc34, Luc35, Luc37, Luc38, Luc39, Luc56, Luc60, Luc63, or Luc90. The hybridoma cell line Luc90 has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) at P.O. Box 1549, Manassas, Va. 20108, as accession number PTA 5091. The deposit of this hybridoma cell line was received by the ATCC on Mar. 26, 2003. The hybridoma cell line Luc63 has also been deposited with the ATCC at the address listed above. The deposit of the Luc63 antibody was received by the ATCC on May 6, 2004.

The present invention provides for monoclonal antibodies produced by the hybridoma cell lines: Luc2, Luc3, Luc15, Luc22, Luc23, Luc29, Luc32, Luc34, Luc35, Luc37, Luc38, Luc39, Luc56, Luc60, Luc63, or Luc90 (ATCC Accession Number PTA 5091). These monoclonal antibodies are named as the antibodies: Luc2, Luc3, Luc 5, Luc22, Luc23, Luc29, Luc32, Luc34, Luc35, Luc37, Luc38, Luc39, Luc56, Luc60, Luc63, and Luc90, respectively, hereafter.

The present invention provides for antibodies, preferably monoclonal antibodies, that bind substantially to the same epitope as any one of the Luc monoclonal antibodies described herein.

The present invention provides for antibodies, preferably monoclonal antibodies, that do not bind substantially to the same epitope as one or more of the Luc monoclonal antibodies described above.

A variety of immunological screening assays for the assessment of the antibody competition can be used to identify the antibodies that bind to substantially the same epitope of an antibody of the present invention or bind to a different epitope from that of an antibody of the present invention.

In conducting an antibody competition study between a control antibody and any test antibody (irrespective of species or isotype), one may first label the control with a detectable label, such as, biotin or an enzymatic (or even radioactive) label to enable subsequent identification. In this case, one would pre-mix or incubate the unlabeled antibody with cells expressing the CS1 protein. The labeled antibody is then added to the pre-incubated cells. The intensity of the bound label is measured. If the labeled antibody competes with the unlabeled antibody by binding to an overlapping epitope, the intensity will be decreased relative to the binding by negative control unlabeled antibody (a known antibody that does not bind CS1).

The assay may be any one of a range of immunological assays based upon antibody competition, and the control antibodies would be detected by means of detecting their label, e.g., by using streptavidin in the case of biotinylated antibodies or by using a chromogenic substrate in connection with an enzymatic label (such as 3,3′5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) substrate with peroxidase enzyme) or by simply detecting a radioactive label or a fluorescence label. An antibody that binds to the same epitope as the control antibodies will be able to effectively compete for binding and thus will significantly reduce (for example, by at least 50%) the control antibody binding, as evidenced by a reduction in the bound label.

The reactivity of the (labeled) control antibodies in the absence of a completely irrelevant antibody would be the control high value. The control low value would be obtained by incubating the unlabeled test antibodies with cells expressing CS1 and then incubate the cell/antibody mixture with labeled control antibodies of exactly the same type, when competition would occur and reduce binding of the labeled antibodies. In a test assay, a significant reduction in labeled antibody reactivity in the presence of a test antibody is indicative of a test antibody that recognizes substantially the same epitope.

Antibodies against CS1 of all species of origins are included in the present invention. Non-limiting exemplary natural antibodies include antibodies derived from human, chicken, goats, and rodents (e.g., rats, mice, hamsters and rabbits), including transgenic rodents genetically engineered to produce human antibodies (see, e.g., Lonberg et al., WO93/12227; U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,806; and Kucherlapati, et al., WO91/10741; U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,584, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety). Natural antibodies are the antibodies produced by a host animal after being immunized with an antigen, such as a polypeptide, preferably a human polypeptide. In a preferred embodiment, the antibody of the present invention is an isolated natural antibody that binds to and/or neutralizes CS1.

The genetically altered anti-CS1 antibodies should be functionally equivalent to the above-mentioned natural antibodies. Modified antibodies providing improved stability or/and therapeutic efficacy are preferred. Examples of modified antibodies include those with conservative substitutions of amino acid residues, and one or more deletions or additions of amino acids that do not significantly deleteriously alter the antigen binding utility. Substitutions can range from changing or modifying one or more amino acid residues to complete redesign of a region as long as the therapeutic utility is maintained. Antibodies of this invention can be modified post-translationally (e.g., acetylation, and/or phosphorylation) or can be modified synthetically (e.g., the attachment of a labeling group). Preferred genetically altered antibodies are chimeric antibodies and humanized antibodies.

The chimeric antibody is an antibody having a variable region and a constant region derived from two different antibodies, preferably derived from separate species. Preferably, the variable region of the chimeric antibody is derived from murine and the constant region is derived from human.

In one embodiment, the murine variable regions are derived from any one of the monoclonal antibodies described herein. In order to produce the chimeric antibodies, the portions derived from two different species (e.g., human constant region and murine variable or binding region) can be joined together chemically by conventional techniques or can be prepared as single contiguous proteins using genetic engineering techniques. The DNA molecules encoding the proteins of both the light chain and heavy chain portions of the chimeric antibody can be expressed as contiguous proteins. The method of making chimeric antibodies is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,427; U.S. Pat. No. 6,120,767; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,508, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The genetically altered antibodies used in the present invention include humanized antibodies that bind to and neutralize CS1. In one embodiment, said humanized antibody comprising CDRs of a mouse donor immunoglobulin and heavy chain and light chain frameworks and constant regions of a human acceptor immunoglobulin. In one example, the humanized antibodies are the humanized versions of any one of the antibodies described herein. The method of making humanized antibody is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,530,101; 5,585,089; 5,693,761; 5,693,762; and 6,180,370 each of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Anti-CS1 fully human antibodies are also included in the present invention. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, said fully human antibodies are isolated human antibodies that neutralize the activities of CS1 described herein.

Fully human antibodies against CS1 are produced by a variety of techniques. One example is trioma methodology. The basic approach and an exemplary cell fusion partner, SPAZ-4, for use in this approach have been described by Oestberg et al., Hybridoma 2:361-367 (1983); Oestberg, U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,664; and Engleman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,634,666 (each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety)

Human antibodies against CS1 can also be produced from non-human transgenic animals having transgenes encoding at least a segment of the human immunoglobulin locus. The production and properties of animals having these properties are described in detail by, see, e.g., Lonberg et al., WO93/12227; U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,806; and Kucherlapati, et al., WO91/10741; U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,584, which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Various recombinant antibody library technologies may also be utilized to produce fully human antibodies. For example, one approach is to screen a DNA library from human B cells according to the general protocol outlined by Huse et al., Science 246:1275-1281 (1989). Antibodies binding CS1 or a fragment thereof are selected. Sequences encoding such antibodies (or binding fragments) are then cloned and amplified. The protocol described by Huse is rendered more efficient in combination with phage-display technology. See, e.g., Dower et al., WO 91/17271 and McCafferty et al., WO 92/01047; U.S. Pat. No. 5,969,108, (each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety). In these methods, libraries of phage are produced in which members display different antibodies on their outer surfaces. Antibodies are usually displayed as Fv or Fab fragments. Phage displaying antibodies with a desired specificity are selected by affinity enrichment to CS1 or fragment thereof.

Eukaryotic ribosomes can also be used as means to display a library of antibodies and isolate the binding human antibodies by screening against the target antigen, such as CS1, as described in Coia G, et al., J. Immunol. Methods 1: 254 (1-2): 191-7 (2001); Hanes J. et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 18 (12):1287-92 (2000); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 (24):14130-5 (1998); Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94 (10):4937-42 (1997), each of which in incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The yeast system is also suitable for screening mammalian cell-surface or secreted proteins, such as antibodies. Antibody libraries may be displayed on the surface of yeast cells for the purpose of obtaining the human antibodies against a target antigen. This approach is described by Yeung, et al., Biotechnol. Prog. 18(2):212-20 (2002); Boeder, E. T., et al., Nat. Biotechnol. 15(6):553-7 (1997), each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Alternatively, human antibody libraries may be expressed intracellularly and screened via yeast two-hybrid system (WO0200729A2, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety).

Fragments of the anti-CS1 antibodies, which retain the binding specificity to CS1, are also included in the present invention. Examples of these antigen-binding fragments include, but are not limited to, partial or full heavy chains or light chains, variable regions, or CDR regions of any anti-CS1 antibodies described herein.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antibody fragments are truncated chains (truncated at the carboxyl end). Preferably, these truncated chains possess one or more immunoglobulin activities (e.g., complement fixation activity). Examples of truncated chains include, but are not limited to, Fab fragments (consisting of the VL, VH, CL and CH1 domains); Fd fragments (consisting of the VH and CH1 domains); Fv fragments (consisting of VL and VH domains of a single chain of an antibody); dab fragments (consisting of a VH domain); isolated CDR regions; (Fab′)₂ fragments, bivalent fragments (comprising two Fab fragments linked by a disulphide bridge at the hinge region). The truncated chains can be produced by conventional biochemistry techniques, such as enzyme cleavage, or recombinant DNA techniques, each of which is known in the art. These polypeptide fragments may be produced by proteolytic cleavage of intact antibodies by methods well known in the art, or by inserting stop codons at the desired locations in the vectors using site-directed mutagenesis, such as after CH1 to produce Fab fragments or after the hinge region to produce (Fab′)₂ fragments. Single chain antibodies may be produced by joining V_(L) and V_(H)-coding regions with a DNA that encodes a peptide linker connecting the VL and VH protein fragments

Since the immunoglobulin-related genes contain separate functional regions, each having one or more distinct biological activities, the genes of the antibody fragments may be fused to functional regions from other genes (e.g., enzymes, U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,692, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety) to produce fusion proteins (e.g., immunotoxins) or conjugates having novel properties.

The present invention comprises the use of anti-CS1 antibodies in immunotoxins. Conjugates that are immunotoxins including antibodies have been widely described in the art. The toxins may be coupled to the antibodies by conventional coupling techniques or immunotoxins containing protein toxin portions can be produced as fusion proteins. The conjugates of the present invention can be used in a corresponding way to obtain such immunotoxins. Illustrative of such immunotoxins are those described by Byers, B. S. et al., Seminars Cell Biol 2:59-70 (1991) and by Fanger, M. W. et al., Immunol Today 12:51-54 (1991).

Recombinant DNA techniques can be used to produce the recombinant anti-CS1 antibodies, as well as the chimeric or humanized anti-CS1 antibodies or any other anti-CS1 genetically-altered antibodies and the fragments or conjugate thereof in any expression systems including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression systems, such as bacteria, yeast, insect cells, plant cells, and mammalian cells (for example, NSO cells).

Once produced, the whole antibodies, their dimers, individual light and heavy chains, or other immunoglobulin forms of the present invention can be purified according to stand and procedures of the art, including ammonium sulfate precipitation, affinity columns, column chromatography, gel electrophoresis and the like (see, generally, Scopes, R., Protein Purification (Springer-Verlag, N.Y., 1982)). Substantially pure immunoglobulins of at least about 90 to 95% homogeneity are preferred, and 98 to 99% or more homogeneity most preferred, for pharmaceutical uses. Once purified, partially or to homogeneity as desired, the polypeptides may then be used therapeutically (including extra corporeally) or in developing and performing assay procedures, immunofluorescent stainings, and the like. (See, generally, Immunological Methods, Vols. I and II (Lefkovits and Pernis, eds., Academic Press, NY, 1979 and 1981). The isolated or purified anti-CS1 antibodies can be further screened for their ability of neutralizing the biological activities of CS1 as described in the Examples.

Use of CS1 Nucleic Acids

As described above, CS1 sequences is initially identified by substantial nucleic acid and/or amino acid sequence homology or linkage to the CS1 sequences of Table 2. Such homology can be based upon the overall nucleic acid or amino acid sequence, and is generally determined using either homology programs or hybridization conditions. Typically, linked sequences on an mRNA are found on the same molecule.

Percent identity of a sequence can be determined using an algorithm such as BLAST. A preferred method utilizes the BLASTN module of WU-BLAST-2 set to the default parameters, with overlap span and overlap fraction set to 1 and 0.125, respectively. Alignment may include the introduction of gaps in the sequences to be aligned. In addition, for sequences which contain either more or fewer nucleotides than those of the nucleic acids described, the percentage of homology may be determined based on the number of homologous nucleosides in relation to the total number of nucleosides. Thus, e.g., homology of sequences shorter than those of the sequences identified will be determined using the number of nucleosides in the shorter sequence.

In one embodiment, nucleic acid homology is determined through hybridization studies. Thus, e.g., nucleic acids which hybridize under high stringency to a described nucleic acid, or its complement, or is also found on naturally occurring mRNAs is considered a homologous sequence. In another embodiment, less stringent hybridization conditions are used; e.g., moderate or low stringency conditions may be used; see Ausubel, supra, and Tijssen, supra.

The CS1 nucleic acid sequences of the invention, e.g., the sequences in Table 2, can be fragments of larger genes, e.g., they are nucleic acid segments. “Genes” in this context includes coding regions, non-coding regions, and mixtures of coding and non-coding regions. Accordingly, using the sequences provided herein, extended sequences, in either direction, of the CS1 genes can be obtained, using techniques well known for cloning either longer sequences or the full length sequences; see Ausubel, et al., supra. Much can be done by informatics and many sequences can be clustered to include multiple sequences corresponding to a single gene, e.g., systems such as UniGene.

The CS1 nucleic acid of the present invention are used in several ways. In one embodiment, nucleic acid probes to CS1 are made and attached to biochips to be used in screening and diagnostic methods, as outlined below, or for administration, e.g., for gene therapy, vaccine, RNAi, and/or antisense applications. Alternatively, CS1 nucleic acids that include coding regions of CS1 protein can be put into expression vectors for the expression of CS1 protein, again for screening purposes or for administration to a patient.

In another embodiment, nucleic acid probes to CS1 nucleic acid (both the nucleic acid sequences outlined in the figures and/or the complements thereof) are made. The nucleic acid probes attached to the biochip are designed to be substantially complementary to the CS1 nucleic acid, e.g., the target sequence (either the target sequence of the sample or to other probe sequences, e.g., in sandwich assays), such that hybridization of the target sequence and the probes of the present invention occurs. As outlined below, this complementarity need not be perfect; there may be any number of base pair mismatches which will interfere with hybridization between the target sequence and the single stranded nucleic acids of the present invention. However, if the number of mutations is so great that no hybridization can occur under even the least stringent of hybridization conditions, the sequence is not a complementary target sequence. Thus, by “substantially complementary” herein is meant that the probes are sufficiently complementary to the target sequences to hybridize under normal reaction conditions, particularly high stringency conditions, as outlined herein.

A nucleic acid probe is generally single stranded but can be partially single and partially double stranded. The strandedness of the probe is dictated by the structure, composition, and properties of the target sequence. In general, the nucleic acid probes range from about 8-100 bases long, with from about 10-80 bases being preferred, and from about 30-50 bases being particularly preferred. That is, generally whole genes are not used. In some embodiments, much longer nucleic acids can be used, up to hundreds of bases.

In another embodiment, more than one probe per sequence is used, with either overlapping probes or probes to different sections of the target being used. That is, two, three, four or more probes, with three being preferred, are used to build in a redundancy for a particular target. The probes can be overlapping (e.g., have some sequence in common), or separate. In some cases, PCR primers may be used to amplify signal for higher sensitivity.

Nucleic acids can be attached or immobilized to a solid support in a wide variety of ways. By “immobilized” and grammatical equivalents herein is meant the association or binding between the nucleic acid probe and the solid support is sufficient to be stable under the conditions of binding, washing, analysis, and removal as outlined. The binding can typically be covalent or non-covalent. By “non-covalent binding” and grammatical equivalents herein is meant one or more of electrostatic, hydrophilic, and hydrophobic interactions. Included in non-covalent binding is the covalent attachment of a molecule, e.g., streptavidin to the support and the non-covalent binding of the biotinylated probe to the streptavidin. By “covalent binding” and grammatical equivalents herein is meant that the two moieties, the solid support and the probe, are attached by at least one bond, including sigma bonds, pi bonds, and coordination bonds. Covalent bonds can be formed directly between the probe and the solid support or can be formed by a cross linker or by inclusion of a specific reactive group on either the solid support or the probe or both molecules. Immobilization may also involve a combination of covalent and non-covalent interactions.

In general, the probes are attached to the biochip in a wide variety of ways. As described herein, the nucleic acids can either be synthesized first, with subsequent attachment to the biochip, or can be directly synthesized on the biochip.

The biochip comprises a suitable solid substrate. By “substrate” or “solid support” or other grammatical equivalents herein is meant a material that can be modified for the attachment or association of the nucleic acid probes and is amenable to at least one detection method. Often, the substrate may contain discrete individual sites appropriate for individual partitioning and identification. The number of possible substrates is very large, and include, but are not limited to, glass and modified or functionalized glass, plastics (including acrylics, polystyrene and copolymers of styrene and other materials, polypropylene, polyethylene, polybutylene, polyurethanes, TeflonJ, etc.), polysaccharides, nylon or nitrocellulose, resins, silica or silica-based materials including silicon and modified silicon, carbon, metals, inorganic glasses, plastics, etc. In general, the substrates allow optical detection and do not appreciably fluoresce. See WO 0055627.

Generally the substrate is planar, although other configurations of substrates may be used as well. For example, the probes may be placed on the inside surface of a tube for flow-through sample analysis to minimize sample volume. Similarly, the substrate may be flexible, such as a flexible foam, including closed cell foams made of particular plastics.

In one embodiment, the surface of the biochip and the probe may be derivatized with chemical functional groups for subsequent attachment of the two. Thus, e.g., the biochip is derivatized with a chemical functional group including, but not limited to, amino groups, carboxy groups, oxo groups, and thiol groups, with amino groups being particularly preferred. Using these functional groups, the probes can be attached using functional groups on the probes. For example, nucleic acids containing amino groups can be attached to surfaces comprising amino groups, e.g., using linkers; e.g., homo- or hetero-bifunctional linkers as are well known (see 1994 Pierce Chemical Company catalog, technical section on cross-linkers, pages 155-200). In addition, in some cases, additional linkers, such as alkyl groups (including substituted and heteroalkyl groups) may be used.

In this embodiment, oligonucleotides are synthesized, and then attached to the surface of the solid support. Either the 5′ or 3′ terminus may be attached to the solid support, or attachment may be via linkage to an internal nucleoside. In another embodiment, the immobilization to the solid support may be very strong, yet non-covalent. For example, biotinylated oligonucleotides can be made, which bind to surfaces covalently coated with streptavidin, resulting in attachment.

Alternatively, the oligonucleotides may be synthesized on the surface. For example, photoactivation techniques utilizing photopolymerization compounds and techniques are used. In another embodiment, the nucleic acids can be synthesized in situ, using known photolithographic techniques, such as those described in WO 95/25116; WO 95/35505; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,700,637 and 5,445,934; and references cited within, all of which are expressly incorporated by reference; these methods of attachment form the basis of the Affymetrix GENECHIP® (DNA Microarray chip) technology.

Often, amplification-based assays are performed to measure the expression level of CS1-associated sequences. These assays are typically performed in conjunction with reverse transcription. In such assays, a CS1-associated nucleic acid sequence acts as a template in an amplification reaction (e.g., Polymerase Chain Reaction, or PCR). In a quantitative amplification, the amount of amplification product will be proportional to the amount of template in the original sample. Comparison to appropriate controls provides a measure of the amount of CS1-associated RNA. Methods of quantitative amplification are well known. Detailed protocols for quantitative PCR are provided, e.g., in Innis, et al. (1990) PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications Academic Press.

In some embodiments, a TAQMAN® (a fluorogenic oligonucleotide probe) based assay is used to measure expression. TAQMAN® based assays use a fluorogenic oligonucleotide probe that contains a 5′ fluorescent dye and a 3′ quenching agent. The probe hybridizes to a PCR product, but cannot itself be extended due to a blocking agent at the 3′ end. When the PCR product is amplified in subsequent cycles, the 5′ nuclease activity of the polymerase, e.g., AMPLITAQ® (DNA polymerase), results in the cleavage of the TAQMAN® probe. This cleavage separates the 5′ fluorescent dye and the 3′ quenching agent, thereby resulting in an increase in fluorescence as a function of amplification (see, e.g., literature provided by Perkin-Elmer).

Other suitable amplification methods include, but are not limited to, ligase chain reaction (LCR) (see Wu and Wallace (1989) Genomics 4:560-569, Landegren, et al. (1988) Science 241:1077-1080, and Barringer, et al. (1990) Gene 89:117-122), transcription amplification (Kwoh, et al. (1989) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86:1173-1177), self-sustained sequence replication (Guatelli, et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:1874-1878), dot PCR, linker adapter PCR, etc.

Expression of CS1 Protein from Nucleic Acids

In one embodiment, CS1 nucleic acid, e.g., encoding CS1 protein, are used to make a variety of expression vectors to express CS1 protein which can then be used in developing reagents for diagnostic assays as described below. Expression vectors and recombinant DNA technology are well known (see, e.g., Ausubel, supra, and Fernandez and Hoeffler (eds. 1999) Gene Expression Systems Academic Press) to express proteins. The expression vectors may be either self-replicating extrachromosomal vectors or vectors which integrate into a host genome. Generally, these expression vectors include transcriptional and translational regulatory nucleic acid operably linked to the nucleic acid encoding the CS1 protein. The term “control sequences” refers to DNA sequences used for the expression of an operably linked coding sequence in a particular host organism. Control sequences that are suitable for prokaryotes, e.g., include a promoter, optionally an operator sequence, and a ribosome-binding site. Eukaryotic cells are known to utilize promoters, polyadenylation signals, and enhancers.

Nucleic acid is “operably linked” when it is placed into a functional relationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For example, DNA for a presequence or secretory leader is operably linked to DNA for a polypeptide if it is expressed as a preprotein that participates in the secretion of the polypeptide; a promoter or enhancer is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the sequence; or a ribosome binding site is operably linked to a coding sequence if it is positioned so as to facilitate translation. Generally, “operably linked” means that the DNA sequences being linked are contiguous, and, in the case of a secretory leader, contiguous and in reading phase. However, enhancers do not have to be contiguous. Linking is typically accomplished by ligation at convenient restriction sites. If such sites do not exist, synthetic oligonucleotide adaptors or linkers are used in accordance with conventional practice. Transcriptional and translational regulatory nucleic acid will generally be appropriate to the host cell used to express the CS1 protein. Numerous types of appropriate expression vectors and suitable regulatory sequences are known for a variety of host cells.

In general, transcriptional and translational regulatory sequences may include, but are not limited to, promoter sequences, ribosomal binding sites, transcriptional start and stop sequences, translational start and stop sequences, and enhancer or activator sequences. In one embodiment, the regulatory sequences include a promoter and transcriptional start and stop sequences.

Promoter sequences may be either constitutive or inducible promoters. The promoters may be either naturally occurring promoters or hybrid promoters. Hybrid promoters, which combine elements of more than one promoter, are also known, and are useful in the present invention.

An expression vector may comprise additional elements. For example, the expression vector may have two replication systems, thus allowing it to be maintained in two organisms, e.g., in mammalian or insect cells for expression and in a prokaryotic host for cloning and amplification. Furthermore, for integrating expression vectors, the expression vector often contains at least one sequence homologous to the host cell genome, and preferably two homologous sequences which flank the expression construct. The integrating vector may be directed to a specific locus in the host cell by selecting the appropriate homologous sequence for inclusion in the vector. Constructs for integrating vectors are available. See, e.g., Fernandez and Hoeffler, supra; and Kitamura, et al. (1995) Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 92:9146-9150.

In addition, in another embodiment, the expression vector contains a selectable marker gene to allow the selection of transformed host cells. Selection genes are well known and will vary with the host cell used.

The CS1 protein of the present invention are usually produced by culturing a host cell transformed with an expression vector containing nucleic acid encoding a CS1 protein, under the appropriate conditions to induce or cause expression of the CS1 protein. Conditions appropriate for CS1 protein expression will vary with the choice of the expression vector and the host cell, and will be easily ascertained through routine experimentation or optimization. For example, the use of constitutive promoters in the expression vector will require optimizing the growth and proliferation of the host cell, while the use of an inducible promoter requires the appropriate growth conditions for induction. In addition, in some embodiments, the timing of the harvest is important. For example, the baculoviral systems used in insect cell expression are lytic viruses, and thus harvest time selection can be crucial for product yield.

Appropriate host cells include yeast, bacteria, archaebacteria, fungi, and insect and animal cells, including mammalian cells. Of particular interest are Saccharomyces cerevisiae and other yeasts, E. coli, Bacillus subtilis, Sf9 cells, C129 cells, 293 cells, Neurospora, BHK, CHO, COS, HeLa cells, HUVEC (human umbilical vein endothelial cells), THP1 cells (a macrophage cell line), and various other human cells and cell lines.

In one embodiment, the CS1 proteins are expressed in mammalian cells. Mammalian expression systems may be used, and include retroviral and adenoviral systems. One expression vector system is a retroviral vector system such as is generally described in PCT/US97/01019 and PCT/US97/01048. Of particular use as mammalian promoters are the promoters from mammalian viral genes, since the viral genes are often highly expressed and have a broad host range. Examples include the SV40 early promoter, mouse mammary tumor virus LTR promoter, adenovirus major late promoter, herpes simplex virus promoter, and the CMV promoter (see, e.g., Fernandez and Hoeffler, supra). Typically, transcription termination and polyadenylation sequences recognized by mammalian cells are regulatory regions located 3′ to the translation stop codon and thus, together with the promoter elements, flank the coding sequence. Examples of transcription terminator and polyadenylation signals include those derived from SV40.

Methods of introducing exogenous nucleic acid into mammalian hosts, as well as other hosts, are available, and will vary with the host cell used. Techniques include dextran-mediated transfection, calcium phosphate precipitation, polybrene mediated transfection, protoplast fusion, electroporation, viral infection, encapsulation of the polynucleotide(s) in liposomes, and direct microinjection of the DNA into nuclei.

In another embodiment, CS1 protein is expressed in bacterial systems. Promoters from bacteriophage may also be used. In addition, synthetic promoters and hybrid promoters are also useful; e.g., the tac promoter is a hybrid of the trp and lac promoter sequences. Furthermore, a bacterial promoter can include naturally occurring promoters of non-bacterial origin that have the ability to bind bacterial RNA polymerase and initiate transcription. In addition to a functioning promoter sequence, an efficient ribosome binding site is desirable. The expression vector may also include a signal peptide sequence that provides for secretion of the CS1 protein in bacteria. The protein is either secreted into the growth media (gram-positive bacteria) or into the periplasmic space, located between the inner and outer membrane of the cell (gram-negative bacteria). The bacterial expression vector may also include a selectable marker gene to allow for the selection of bacterial strains that have been transformed. Suitable selection genes include genes which render the bacteria resistant to drugs such as ampicillin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, kanamycin, neomycin, and tetracycline. Selectable markers also include biosynthetic genes, such as those in the histidine, tryptophan, and leucine biosynthetic pathways. These components are assembled into expression vectors. Expression vectors for bacteria are well known, and include vectors for Bacillus subtilis, E. coli, Streptococcus cremoris, and Streptococcus lividans, among others (e.g., Fernandez and Hoeffler, supra). The bacterial expression vectors are transformed into bacterial host cells using techniques such as calcium chloride treatment, electroporation, and others.

In one embodiment, CS1 protein is produced in insect cells using, e.g., expression vectors for the transformation of insect cells, and in particular, baculovirus-based expression vectors.

In another embodiment, a CS1 protein is produced in yeast cells. Yeast expression systems are well known, and include expression vectors for Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans and C. maltosa, Hansenula polymorpha, Kluyveromyces fragilis and K. lactis, Pichia guillerimondii and P. pastoris, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Yarrowia lipolytica.

The CS1 protein may also be made as a fusion protein, using available techniques. Thus, e.g., for the creation of monoclonal antibodies, if the desired epitope is small, the CS1 protein may be fused to a carrier protein to form an immunogen. Alternatively, the CS1 protein may be made as a fusion protein to increase expression, or for other reasons. For example, when the CS1 protein is a CS1 peptide, the nucleic acid encoding the peptide may be linked to other nucleic acid for expression purposes. Fusion with detection epitope tags can be made, e.g., with FLAG, His6, myc, HA, etc.

In yet another embodiment, the CS1 protein is purified or isolated after expression. CS1 protein may be isolated or purified in a variety of ways depending on what other components are present in the sample and the requirements for purified product, e.g., natural conformation or denatured. Standard purification methods include ammonium sulfate precipitations, electrophoretic, molecular, immunological, and chromatographic techniques, including ion exchange, hydrophobic, affinity, and reverse-phase HPLC chromatography, and chromatofocusing. For example, the CS1 protein may be purified using a standard anti-CS1 protein antibody column. Ultrafiltration and diafiltration techniques, in conjunction with protein concentration, are also useful. See, e.g., Walsh (2002) Proteins: Biochemistry and Biotechnology Wiley; Hardin, et al. (eds. 2001) Cloning, Gene Expression and Protein Purification Oxford Univ. Press; Wilson, et al. (eds. 2000) Encyclopedia of Separation Science Academic Press; and Scopes (1993) Protein Purification Springer-Verlag. The degree of purification necessary will vary depending on the use of the CS1 protein. In some instances no purification will be necessary.

Once expressed and purified if necessary, the CS1 proteins and nucleic acids are useful in a number of applications. They may be used as immunoselection reagents, as vaccine reagents, as screening agents, therapeutic entities, for production of antibodies, as transcription or translation inhibitors, etc.

Variants of CS1 Proteins

Also included within one embodiment of CS1 proteins are amino acid variants of the naturally occurring sequences, as determined herein. Preferably, the variants are preferably greater than about 75% homologous to the wild-type sequence, more preferably greater than about 80%, even more preferably greater than about 85%, and most preferably greater than 90%. In some embodiments the homology will be as high as about 93-95% or 98%. As for nucleic acids, homology in this context means sequence similarity or identity, with identity being preferred. This homology will be determined using standard techniques, as are outlined above for nucleic acid homologies.

CS1 protein of the present invention may be shorter or longer than the wild type amino acid sequences. Thus, in one embodiment, included within the definition of CS1 proteins are portions or fragments of the wild type sequences herein. In addition, as outlined above, the CS1 nucleic acid of the invention may be used to obtain additional coding regions, and thus additional protein sequence.

In one embodiment, CS1 proteins are derivative or variant CS1 proteins as compared to the wild-type sequence. That is, as outlined more fully below, the derivative CS1 peptide will often contain at least one amino acid substitution, deletion, or insertion, with amino acid substitutions being particularly preferred. The amino acid substitution, insertion, or deletion may occur at many residue positions within the CS1 peptide.

Also included within one embodiment of CS1 proteins of the present invention are amino acid sequence variants. These variants typically fall into one or more of three classes: substitutional, insertional, or deletional variants. These variants ordinarily are prepared by site specific mutagenesis of nucleotides in the DNA encoding the CS1 protein, using cassette or PCR mutagenesis or other techniques, to produce DNA encoding the variant, and thereafter expressing the DNA in recombinant cell culture as outlined above. However, variant CS1 protein fragments having up to about 100-150 residues may be prepared by in vitro synthesis using established techniques. Amino acid sequence variants are characterized by the predetermined nature of the variation, a feature that sets them apart from naturally occurring allelic or interspecies variation of the CS1 protein amino acid sequence. The variants typically exhibit a similar qualitative biological activity as a naturally occurring analogue, although variants can also be selected which have modified characteristics.

While the site or region for introducing an amino acid sequence variation is often predetermined, the mutation per se need not be predetermined. For example, in order to optimize the performance of a mutation at a given site, random mutagenesis may be conducted at the target codon or region and the expressed CS1 variants screened for the optimal combination of desired activity. Techniques for making substitution mutations at predetermined sites in DNA having a known sequence are well known, e.g., M13 primer mutagenesis and PCR mutagenesis. Screening of mutants is often done using assays of CS1 protein activities.

Amino acid substitutions are typically of single residues; insertions usually will be on the order of from about 1-20 amino acids, although considerably larger insertions may be tolerated. Deletions generally range from about 1-20 residues, although in some cases deletions may be much larger.

Substitutions, deletions, insertions, or combination thereof may be used to arrive at a final derivative. Generally these changes are done on a few amino acids to minimize the alteration of the molecule. However, larger changes may be tolerated in certain circumstances. When small alterations in the characteristics of the CS1 protein are desired, substitutions are generally made in accordance with the amino acid substitution relationships described.

The variants typically exhibit essentially the same qualitative biological activity and will elicit the same immune response as a naturally-occurring analog, although variants also are selected to modify the characteristics of CS1 proteins as needed. Alternatively, the variant may be designed such that a biological activity of the CS1 protein is altered. For example, glycosylation sites may be added, altered, or removed.

Substantial changes in function or immunological identity are sometimes made by selecting substitutions that are less conservative than those described above. For example, substitutions may be made which more significantly affect: the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of the alteration, for example the alpha-helical or beta-sheet structure; the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site; or the bulk of the side chain. Substitutions which generally are expected to produce the greatest changes in the polypeptide's properties are those in which (a) a hydrophilic residue, e.g., serine or threonine is substituted for (or by) a hydrophobic residue, e.g., leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, valine, or alanine; (b) a cysteine or proline is substituted for (or by) another residue; (c) a residue having an electropositive side chain, e.g., lysine, arginine, or histidine, is substituted for (or by) an electronegative residue, e.g., glutamic or aspartic acid; (d) a residue having a bulky side chain, e.g., phenylalanine, is substituted for (or by) one not having a side chain, e.g., glycine; or (e) a proline residue is incorporated or substituted, which changes the degree of rotational freedom of the peptidyl bond.

Variants typically exhibit a similar qualitative biological activity and will elicit the same immune response as the naturally-occurring analog, although variants also are selected to modify the characteristics of the skin CS1 proteins as needed. Alternatively, the variant may be designed such that the biological activity of the CS1 protein is altered. For example, glycosylation sites may be altered or removed.

Covalent modifications of CS1 polypeptides are included within the scope of this invention. One type of covalent modification includes reacting targeted amino acid residues of a CS1 polypeptide with an organic derivatizing agent that is capable of reacting with selected side chains or the N- or C-terminal residues of a CS1 polypeptide. Derivatization with bifunctional agents is useful, for instance, for crosslinking CS1 polypeptides to a water-insoluble support matrix or surface for use in a method for purifying anti-CS1 polypeptide antibodies or screening assays, as is more fully described below. Commonly used crosslinking agents include, e.g., 1,1-bis(diazoacetyl)-2-phenylethane, glutaraldehyde, N-hydroxysuccinimide esters, e.g., esters with 4-azidosalicylic acid, homobifunctional imidoesters, including disuccinimidyl esters such as 3,3′-dithiobis(succinimidylpropionate), bifunctional maleimides such as bis-N-maleimido-1,8-octane and agents such as methyl-3-((p-azidophenyl)dithio)propioimidate.

Other modifications include deamidation of glutaminyl and asparaginyl residues to the corresponding glutamyl and aspartyl residues, respectively, hydroxylation of proline and lysine, phosphorylation of hydroxyl groups of serinyl, threonyl, or tyrosyl residues, methylation of the amino groups of the lysine, arginine, and histidine side chains (e.g., pp. 79-86, Creighton (1992) Proteins: Structure and Molecular Properties Freeman), acetylation of the N-terminal amine, and amidation of a C-terminal carboxyl group.

Another type of covalent modification of the CS1 polypeptide included within the scope of this invention comprises altering the native glycosylation pattern of the polypeptide. “Altering the native glycosylation pattern” is intended for purposes herein to mean deleting one or more carbohydrate moieties found in native sequence CS1 polypeptide, and/or adding one or more glycosylation sites that are not present in the native sequence CS1 polypeptide. Glycosylation patterns can be altered in many ways. Different cell types to express CS1-associated sequences can result in different glycosylation patterns.

Addition of glycosylation sites to CS1 polypeptides may also be accomplished by altering the amino acid sequence thereof. The alteration may be made, e.g., by the addition of, or substitution by, one or more serine or threonine residues to the native sequence CS1 polypeptide (for O-linked glycosylation sites). The CS1 amino acid sequence may optionally be altered through changes at the DNA level, particularly by mutating the DNA encoding the CS1 polypeptide at preselected bases such that codons are generated that will translate into the desired amino acids.

Another means of increasing the number of carbohydrate moieties on the CS1 polypeptide is by chemical or enzymatic coupling of glycosides to the polypeptide. See, e.g., WO 87/05330; pp. 259-306 in Aplin and Wriston (1981) CRC Crit. Rev. Biochem.

Removal of carbohydrate moieties present on the CS1 polypeptide may be accomplished chemically or enzymatically or by mutational substitution of codons encoding for amino acid residues that serve as targets for glycosylation. Chemical deglycosylation techniques are applicable. See, e.g., Sojar and Bahl (1987) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 259:52-57 and Edge, et al. (1981) Anal. Biochem. 118:131-137. Enzymatic cleavage of carbohydrate moieties on polypeptides can be achieved by the use of a variety of endo- and exo-glycosidases. See, e.g., Thotakura, et al. (1987) Meth. Enzymol. 138:350-359.

Another type of covalent modification of CS1 polypeptides comprises linking the CS1 polypeptide to one of a variety of nonproteinaceous polymers, e.g., polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or polyoxyalkylenes, in the manner set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,835; 4,496,689; 4,301,144; 4,670,417; 4,791,192, or 4,179,337.

CS1 polypeptides of the present invention may also be modified in a Way to form chimeric molecules comprising a CS1 polypeptide fused to another heterologous polypeptide or amino acid sequence. In one embodiment, such a chimeric molecule comprises a fusion of a CS1 polypeptide with a tag polypeptide which provides an epitope to which an anti-tag antibody can selectively bind. The epitope tag is generally placed at the amino- or carboxyl-terminus of the CS1 polypeptide. The presence of such epitope-tagged forms of a CS1 polypeptide can be detected using an antibody against the tag polypeptide. Also, provision of the epitope tag enables the CS1 polypeptide to be readily purified by affinity purification using an anti-tag antibody or another type of affinity matrix that binds to the epitope tag. In an alternative embodiment, the chimeric molecule may comprise a fusion of a CS1 polypeptide with an immunoglobulin or a particular region of an immunoglobulin. For a bivalent form of the chimeric molecule, such a fusion could be to the Fc region of an IgG molecule.

Various tag polypeptides and their respective antibodies are available. Examples include poly-histidine (poly-his) or poly-histidine-glycine (poly-his-gly) tags; HIS6 and metal chelation tags, the flu HA tag polypeptide and its antibody 12CA5 (Field, et al. (1988) Mol. Cell. Biol. 8:2159-2165); the c-myc tag and the 8F9, 3C7, 6E10, G4, B7, and 9E10 antibodies thereto (Evan, et al. (1985) Molecular and Cellular Biology 5:3610-3616); and the Herpes Simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD) tag and its antibody (Paborsky, et al. (1990) Protein Engineering 3(6):547-553). Other tag polypeptides include the Flag-peptide (Hopp, et al. (1988) BioTechnology 6:1204-1210); the KT3 epitope peptide (Martin, et al. (1992) Science 255:192-194); tubulin epitope peptide (Skinner, et al. (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266:15163-15166); and the T7 gene 10 protein peptide tag (Lutz-Freyermuth, et al. (1990) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 87:6393-6397).

Also included are CS1 proteins from other organisms, which are cloned and expressed as outlined below. Thus, probe or degenerate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primer sequences may be used to find other related CS1 proteins from humans or other organisms. Particularly useful probe and/or PCR primer sequences include the unique areas of the CS1 nucleic acid sequence. Preferred PCR primers are from about 15-35 nucleotides in length, with from about 20-30 being preferred, and may contain inosine as needed. The conditions for PCR reaction have been well described (e.g., Innis, PCR Protocols, supra).

In addition, CS1 proteins can be made that are longer than those encoded by the nucleic acids of the Table 2, e.g., by the elucidation of extended sequences, the addition of epitope or purification tags, the addition of other fusion sequences, etc.

CS1 proteins may also be identified as being encoded by CS1 nucleic acids. Thus, CS1 proteins are encoded by nucleic acids that will hybridize to the sequences of the sequence listings, or their complements, as outlined herein.

Binding Partners to CS1 Proteins CS1 Antibodies

The CS1 antibodies of the invention specifically bind to CS1 proteins. By “specifically bind” herein is meant that the antibodies bind to the protein with a K_(d) of at least about 0.1 mM, more usually at least about 1 μM, preferably at least about 0.1 μM or better, and most preferably, 0.01 μM or better. Selectivity of binding to the specific target and not to related sequences is often also important.

In one embodiment, when the CS1 protein is to be used to generate binding partners, e.g., antibodies for immunodiagnosis, the CS1 protein should share at least one epitope or determinant with the full length protein. By “epitope” or “determinant” herein is typically meant a portion of a protein which will generate and/or bind an antibody or T-cell receptor in the context of MHC. Thus, in most instances, antibodies made to a smaller CS1 protein will be able to bind to the full-length protein, particularly linear epitopes. In another embodiment, the epitope is unique; that is, antibodies generated to a unique epitope show little or no cross-reactivity. In yet another embodiment, the epitope is selected from a protein sequence set out in the table.

Methods of preparing polyclonal antibodies exist (e.g., Coligan, supra; and Harlow and Lane, supra). Polyclonal antibodies can be raised in a mammal, e.g., by one or more injections of an immunizing agent and, if desired, an adjuvant. Typically, the immunizing agent and/or adjuvant will be injected in the mammal by multiple subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injections. The immunizing agent may include a protein encoded by a nucleic acid of Table 2 or fragment thereof or a fusion protein thereof. It may be useful to conjugate the immunizing agent to a protein known to be immunogenic in the mammal being immunized. Examples of such immunogenic proteins include but are not limited to keyhole limpet hemocyanin, serum albumin, bovine thyroglobulin, and soybean trypsin inhibitor. Examples of adjuvants which may be employed include Freund's complete adjuvant and MPL-TDM adjuvant (monophosphoryl Lipid A, synthetic trehalose dicorynomycolate). Various immunization protocols may be used.

The antibodies may, alternatively, be monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibodies may be prepared using hybridoma methods, such as those described by Kohler and Milstein (1975) Nature 256:495. In a hybridoma method, a mouse, hamster, or other appropriate host animal, is typically immunized with an immunizing agent to elicit lymphocytes that produce or are capable of producing antibodies that will specifically bind to the immunizing agent. Alternatively, the lymphocytes may be immunized in vitro. The immunizing agent will typically include a polypeptide encoded by a nucleic acid of the table or fragment thereof, or a fusion protein thereof. Generally, either peripheral blood lymphocytes (“PBLs”) are used if cells of human origin are desired, or spleen cells or lymph node cells are used if non-human mammalian sources are desired. The lymphocytes are then fused with an immortalized cell line using a suitable fusing agent, such as polyethylene glycol, to form a hybridoma cell (e.g., pp. 59-103 in Goding (1986) Monoclonal Antibodies: Principles and Practice Academic Press). Immortalized cell lines are usually transformed mammalian cells, particularly cells of rodent, bovine, or human origin. Usually, rat or mouse cell lines are employed. The hybridoma cells may be cultured in a suitable culture medium that preferably contains one or more substances that inhibit the growth or survival of the unfused, immortalized cells. For example, if the parental cells lack the enzyme hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT or HPRT), the culture medium for the hybridomas typically will include hypoxanthine, aminopterin, and thymidine (“HAT medium”), which substances prevent the growth of HGPRT-deficient cells.

In one embodiment, the antibodies are bispecific antibodies. Bispecific antibodies are monoclonal, preferably human or humanized, antibodies that have binding specificities for at least two different antigens or that have binding specificities for two epitopes on the same antigen. In one embodiment, one of the binding specificities is for a protein encoded by a nucleic acid of the table or a fragment thereof, the other one is for another antigen, and preferably for a cell-surface protein or receptor or receptor subunit, preferably one that is CS1 specific. Alternatively, tetramer-type technology may create multivalent reagents.

In another embodiment, the antibodies have low levels or lack fucose. Antibodies lacking fucose have been correlated with enhanced ADCC (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) activity, especially at low doses of antibody. Shields, R. L., et al., (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277:26733-26740; Shinkawa, T. et al., (2003), J. Biol. Chem. 278:3466. Methods of preparing fucose-less antibodies include growth in rat myeloma YB2/0 cells (ATCC CRL 1662). YB2/0 cells express low levels of FUT8 mRNA, which encodes an enzyme (α 1,6-fucosyltransferase) necessary for fucosylation of polypeptides.

Alternative methods for increasing ADDC activity include mutations in the Fc portion of a CS1 antibody, particularly mutations which increase antibody affinity for an FcγR receptor. A correlation between increased FcγR binding with mutated Fc has been demonstrated using targeted cytoxicity cell-based assays. Shields, R. L. et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem 276:6591-6604; Presta et al. (2002), Biochem Soc. Trans. 30:487-490. Methods for increasing ADCC activity through specific Fc region mutations include the Fc variants comprising at least one amino acid substitution at a position selected from the group consisting of: 234, 235, 239, 240, 241, 243, 244, 245, 247, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 269, 296, 297, 298, 299, 313, 325, 327, 328, 329, 330 and 332, wherein the numbering of the residues in the Fc region is that of the EU index as in Kabat. In a preferred embodiment, said Fc variants comprise at least one substitution selected from the group consisting of L234D, L234E, L234N, L234Q, L234T, L234H, L234Y, L234I, L234V, L234F, L235D, L235S, L235N, L235Q, L235T, L235H, L235Y, L235I, L235V, L235F, S239D, S239E, S239N, S239Q, S239F, S239T, S239H, S239Y, V240I, V240A, V240T, V240M, F241W, F241L, F241Y, F241E, F241R, F243W, F243L, F243Y, F243R, F243Q, P244H, P245A, P247V, P247G, V262I, V262A, V262T, V262E, V263I, V263A, V263T, V263M, V264L, V264I, V264W, V264T, V264R, V264F, V264M, V264Y, V264E, D265G, D265N, D265Q, D265Y, D265F, D265V, D265I, D265L, D265H, D265T, V266I, V266A, V266T, V266M, S267Q, S267L, E269H, E269Y, E269F, E269R, Y296E, Y296Q, Y296D, Y296N, Y296S, Y296T, Y296L, Y296I, Y296H, N297S, N297D, N297E, A298H, T299I, T299L, T299A, T299S, T299V, T299H, T299F, T299E, W313F, N325Q, N325L, N325I, N325D, N325E, N325A, N325T, N325V, N325H, A327N, A327L, L328M, L328D, L328E, L328N, L328Q, L328F, L328I, L328V, L328T, L328H, L328A, P329F, A330L, A330Y, A330V, A330I, A330F, A330R, A330H, I332D, I332E, I332N, I332Q, I332T, I332H, I332Y and I332A, wherein the numbering of the residues in the Fc region is that of the EU index as in Kabat. Fc variants may also be selected from the group consisting of V264L, V264I, F241W, F241L, F243W, F243L, F241 L/F243L/V262I/V264I, F241W/F243W, F241W/F243W/V262A/V264A, F241L/V262I, F243L/V264I, F243L/V262I/V264W, F241Y/F243Y/V262T/V264T, F241E/F243R/V262E/V264R, F241E/F243 Q/V262T/V264E, F241R/F243Q/V262T/V264R, F241E/F243Y/V262T/V264R, L328M, L328E, L328F, I332E, L3238M/I332E, P244H, P245A, P247V, W313F, P244H/P245A/P247V, P247G, V264I/I332E, F241E/F243R/V262E/V264R/I332E, F241E/F243Q/V262T/V264E/I332E, F241R/F243Q/V262T/V264R/I332E, F241E/F243Y/V262T/V264R/I332E, S298A/I332E, S239E/I332E, S239Q/I332E, S239E, D265G, D265N, S239E/D265G, S239E/D265N, S239E/D265Q, Y296E, Y296Q, T299I, A327N, S267Q/A327S, S267L/A327S, A327L, P329F, A330L, A330Y, I332D, N297S, N297D, N297S/I332E, N297D/I332E, N297E/I332E, D265Y/N297D/I332E, D265Y/N297D/T299L/I332E, D265F/N297E/I332E, L328I/I332E, L328Q/I332E, I332N, I332Q, V264T, V264F, V240I, V263I, V266I, T299A, T299S, T299V, N325Q, N325L, N3251, S239D, S239N, S239F, S239D/I332D, S239D/I332E, S239D/I332N, S239D/I332Q, S239E/I332D, S239E/I332N, S239E/I332Q, S239N/I332D, S239N/I332E, S239N/I332N, S239N/I332Q, S239Q/I332D, S239Q/I332N, S239Q/I332Q, Y296D, Y296N, F241Y/F243Y/V262T/V264T/N297D/I332E, A330Y/I332E, V264I/A330Y/I332E, A330L/I332E, V264I/A330L/I332E, L234D, L234E, L234N, L234Q, L234T, L234H, L234Y, L234I, L234V, L234F, L235D, L235S, L235N, L235Q, L235T, L235H, L235Y, L235I, L235V, L235F, S239T, S239H, S239Y, V240A, V240T, V240M, V263A, V263T, V263M, V264M, V264Y, V266A, V266T, V266M, E269H, E269Y, E269F, E269R, Y296S, Y296T, Y296L, Y296I, A298H, T299H, A330V, A330I, A330F, A330R, A330H, N325D, N325E, N325A, N325T, N325V, N325H, L328D/I332E, L328E/I332E, L328N/I332E, L328Q/I332E, L328V/I332E, L328T/I332E, L328H/I332E, L328I/I332E, L328A, I332T, I332H, I332Y, I332A, S239E/V264I/I332E, S239Q/V264I/I332E, S239E/V264I/A330Y/I332E, S239E/V264I/S298A/A330Y/I332E, S239D/N297D/I332E, S239E/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265V/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265I/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265L/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265F/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265Y/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265H/N297D/I332E, S239D/D265T/N297D/I332E, V264E/N297D/I332E, Y296D/N297D/I332E, Y296E/N297D/I332E, Y296N/N297D/I332E, Y296Q/N297D/I332E, Y296H/N297D/I332E, Y296T/N297D/I332E, N297D/T299V/I332E, N297D/T299I/I332E, N297D/T299L/I332E, N297D/T299F/I332E, N297D/T299H/I332E, N297D/T299E/I332E, N297D/A330Y/I332E, N297D/S298A/A330Y/I332E, S239D/A330Y/I332E, S239N/A330Y/I332E, S239D/A330L/I332E, S239N/A330L/I332E, V264I/S298A/I332E, S239D/S298A/I332E, S239N/S298A/I332E, S239D/V264I/I332E, S239D/V264I/S298A/I332E, AND S239D/264I/A330L/I332E, wherein the numbering of the residues in the Fc region is that of the EU index as in Kabat. See also PCT WO 2004/029207, Apr. 8, 2004, incorporated by reference herein.

Antibody-associated ADCC activity can be monitored and quantified through measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release in the supernatant, which is rapidly released upon damage to the plasma membrane.

Other alternative embodiments for promoting cytotoxicity of cells with antibody treatment include antibody-mediated stimulation of signaling cascades resulting in cell death to the antibody bound cell. In addition antibody-mediated stimulation of the innate immune system (e.g. through NK cells) may also result in the death of tumor cells or virally-infected cells.

Detection of CS1 Sequence for Diagnostic Applications

In one aspect, the RNA expression levels of genes are determined for different cellular states in the autoimmune disorder or cancerous, e.g. myeloma, phenotype. Expression levels of genes in normal tissue (e.g., not undergoing a disorder) and in diseased tissue (and in some cases, for varying severities of disorders that relate to prognosis, as outlined below) are evaluated to provide expression profiles. A gene expression profile of a particular cell state or point of development is essentially a “fingerprint” of the state of the cell. While two states may have a particular gene similarly expressed, the evaluation of a number of genes simultaneously allows the generation of a gene expression profile that is reflective of the state of the cell. By comparing expression profiles of cells in different states, information regarding which genes are important (including both up- and down-regulation of genes) in each of these states is obtained. Then, diagnosis may be performed or confirmed to determine whether a tissue sample has the gene expression profile of normal or diseased tissue. This will provide for molecular diagnosis of related conditions.

“Differential expression,” or grammatical equivalents as used herein, refers to qualitative or quantitative differences in the temporal and/or cellular gene expression patterns within and among cells and tissue. Thus, a differentially expressed gene can qualitatively have its expression altered, including an activation or inactivation, in, e.g., normal versus diseased tissue. Genes may be turned on or turned off in a particular state, relative to another state thus permitting comparison of two or more states. A qualitatively regulated gene will exhibit an expression pattern within a state or cell type which is detectable by standard techniques. Some genes will be expressed in one state or cell type, but not in both. Alternatively, the difference in expression may be quantitative, e.g., in that expression is increased or decreased; e.g., gene expression is either upregulated, resulting in an increased amount of transcript, or downregulated, resulting in a decreased amount of transcript. The degree to which expression differs need only be large enough to quantify via standard characterization techniques as outlined below, such as by use of Affymetrix GENECHIP® (DNA microchip array) expression arrays. See, Lockhart (1996) Nature Biotechnology 14:1675-1680. Other techniques include, but are not limited to, quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, northern analysis, and RNase protection. As outlined above, preferably the change in expression (e.g., upregulation or downregulation) is at least about 50%, more preferably at least about 100%, more preferably at least about 150%, more preferably at least about 200%, with from 300 to at least 1000% being especially preferred.

Evaluation may be at the gene transcript or the protein level. The amount of gene expression may be monitored using nucleic acid probes to the RNA or DNA equivalent of the gene transcript, and the quantification of gene expression levels, or, alternatively, the final gene product itself (protein) can be monitored, e.g., with antibodies to CS1 protein and standard immunoassays (ELISAs, etc.) or other techniques, including mass spectroscopy assays, 2D gel electrophoresis assays, etc. Proteins corresponding to CS1, e.g., those identified as being important in a disease phenotype, can be evaluated in a disease diagnostic test. In another embodiment, gene expression monitoring is performed simultaneously on a number of genes. Multiple protein expression monitoring can be performed as well.

In this embodiment, the CS1 nucleic acid probes are attached to biochips as outlined herein for the detection and quantification of CS1 sequences in a particular cell. The assays are further described below in the example. PCR techniques can be used to provide greater sensitivity.

In one embodiment nucleic acids encoding CS1 are detected. Although DNA or RNA encoding CS1 protein may be detected, of particular interest are methods wherein an mRNA encoding a CS1 protein is detected. Probes to detect mRNA can be a nucleotide/deoxynucleotide probe that is complementary to and hybridizes with the mRNA and includes, but is not limited to, oligonucleotides, cDNA, or RNA. Probes also should contain a detectable label, as defined herein. In one method the mRNA is detected after immobilizing the nucleic acid to be examined on a solid support such as nylon membranes and hybridizing the probe with the sample. Following washing to remove the non-specifically bound probe, the label is detected. In another method, detection of the mRNA is performed in situ. In this method permeabilized cells or tissue samples are contacted with a detectably labeled nucleic acid probe for sufficient time to allow the probe to hybridize with the target mRNA. Following washing to remove the non-specifically bound probe, the label is detected. For example a digoxygenin labeled riboprobe (RNA probe) that is complementary to the mRNA encoding a myelomaprotein is detected by binding the digoxygenin with an anti-digoxygenin secondary antibody and developed with nitro blue tetrazolium and 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoyl phosphate.

In another embodiment, various proteins from the three classes of proteins as described herein (secreted, transmembrane, or intracellular proteins) are used in diagnostic assays. The CS1 proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, modified proteins, and cells containing CS1 sequences are used in diagnostic assays. This can be performed on an individual gene or corresponding polypeptide level. In one embodiment, the expression profiles are used, preferably in conjunction with high throughput screening techniques to allow monitoring for expression profile genes and/or corresponding polypeptides.

As described and defined herein, CS1 protein finds use as a disease marker of autoimmune disorders, such as SLE, RA, and IBD, and cancerous conditions, such as myeloma and plasma cell leukemia. Additionally, CS1 finds use as a marker for prognostic or diagnostic purposes. Detection of these proteins in putative diseased tissue allows for detection, prognosis, or diagnosis of such conditions, and for selection of therapeutic strategy. In one embodiment, antibodies are used to detect CS1. A preferred method separates proteins from a sample by electrophoresis on a gel (typically a denaturing and reducing protein gel, but may be another type of gel, including isoelectric focusing gels and the like). Following separation of proteins, CS1 is detected, e.g., by immunoblotting with antibodies raised against CS1.

In another method, antibodies to CS1 find use in in situ imaging techniques, e.g., in histology. See, e.g., Asai, et al. (eds. 1993) Methods in Cell Biology: Antibodies in Cell Biology (vol. 37) Academic Press. In this method, cells are contacted with from one to many antibodies to the myeloma protein(s). Following washing to remove non-specific antibody binding, the presence of the antibody or antibodies is detected. In one embodiment the antibody is detected by incubating with a secondary antibody that contains a detectable label. In another method the primary antibody to CS1 contains a detectable label, e.g., an enzyme marker that can act on a substrate. In another embodiment each one of multiple primary antibodies contains a distinct and detectable label. This method finds particular use in simultaneous screening for CS1 along with other markers of the aforementioned conditions. Many other histological imaging techniques are also provided by the invention.

In one embodiment the label is detected in a fluorometer which has the ability to detect and distinguish emissions of different wavelengths. In addition, a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) can be used in the method.

In another embodiment, antibodies find use in diagnosing autoimmune disorders, such as SLE, RA, and IBD, and cancer, such as myeloma and plasma cell leukemia, from blood, serum, plasma, stool, and other samples. Such samples, therefore, are useful as samples to be probed or tested for the presence of CS1. Antibodies can be used to detect CS1 by previously described immunoassay techniques including ELISA, immunoblotting (Western blotting), immunoprecipitation, BIACORE technology and the like. Conversely, the presence of antibodies may indicate an immune response against an endogenous CS1 protein.

In another embodiment, in situ hybridization of labeled CS1 nucleic acid probes to tissue arrays is done. For example, arrays of tissue samples, including diseased tissue and/or normal tissue, are made. In situ hybridization (see, e.g., Ausubel, supra) is then performed. When comparing the fingerprints between an individual and a standard, a diagnosis, a prognosis, or a prediction may be based on the findings. It is further understood that the genes which indicate the diagnosis may differ from those which indicate the prognosis and molecular profiling of the condition of the cells may lead to distinctions between responsive or refractory conditions or may be predictive of outcomes.

In one embodiment, CS1 proteins, antibodies, nucleic acids, modified proteins, and cells containing CS1 sequences are used in prognosis assays. As above, gene expression profiles can be generated that correlate to a disease state, clinical, pathological, or other information, in terms of long term prognosis. Again, this may be done on either a protein or gene level, with the use of genes being preferred. Single or multiple genes may be useful in various combinations. As above, CS1 probes may be attached to biochips for the detection and quantification of CS1 sequences in a tissue or patient. The assays proceed as outlined above for diagnosis. PCR method may provide more sensitive and accurate quantification.

Genes useful in prognostic assays are genes that are differentially expressed according to the stage of illness of the patient. In one embodiment, the genes may be uniquely expressed according to the stage of the patient. In another embodiment, the genes may be expressed at differential levels according to the stage of the patient. For example, in myeloma, patients are accorded three different stages according to the extent and location of the disease: Stages I, II and III. In Stage I, symptoms are mild to non-existent, with many patients showing no symptoms of myeloma. A positive diagnosis is the presence of tumor cells; however, the number of red blood cells is normal or slightly below normal range, there is no detectable increase in calcium in the blood, there are very low levels of M-protein in the blood or urine, and no detectable bone damage can be seen in X-rays. In Stage II, cancer cells are prevalent in higher numbers. Kidney function may be affected, which worsens the prognostic diagnosis for most patients. Stage III brings about anemia, hypercalcemia, advanced bone damage and high levels of M-protein in the blood and urine. Correlation of protein expression with different stages in autoimmune disorder could also prove useful in determining the prognosis of such disorders. The correlation of genes expressed in the different stages, either uniquely expressed or have differential expression levels according to the stage, may be used to determine the viability of inducing remission in a patient. This would be especially useful in the earlier stages of the disease, where myeloma patients exhibit few symptoms. In addition, genes that are expressed indicating onset of long-term complications, such as beta-2 microglobulin (indicator of kidney damage), as well as high levels of serum albumin and lactate dehydrogenase, may also be useful as a prognostic tool. The correlation of genes expressed in different stages, either uniquely expressed or having differential expression levels according to the stage, may also be monitored to determine the efficacy of treatment using the therapeutics disclosed in the present invention. For example, patients treated with antagonists of the present invention may be monitored for therapeutic efficacy of said antagonists through the monitoring of markers, including for example, CS1 or CS1 in combination with disorder-specific markers (e.g. the monitoring of M-protein for myeloma treatment. Monitoring of these specific markers will be important in determining the efficacy of therapeutic invention, as well as determining dosage and method of treatment considerations for the different indications of the present invention. Induction of disease disorders as model systems in vivo

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Experimental in vivo models have been developed for the investigation of pathological processes of inflammatory bowel disease. Sartor R B, Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 11:89-96 (1997). For example, knock-out transgenic mice can be made, in which the inflammatory bowel disease gene is disrupted or in which an inflammatory bowel disease gene is inserted. Knock-out transgenic mice can be made by insertion of a marker gene or other heterologous gene into the endogenous inflammatory bowel disease gene site in the mouse genome via homologous recombination. Such mice can also be made by substituting the endogenous inflammatory bowel disease gene with a mutated version of the inflammatory bowel disease gene, or by mutating the endogenous inflammatory bowel disease gene, e.g., by exposure to carcinogens.

A DNA construct is introduced into the nuclei of embryonic stem cells. Cells containing the newly engineered genetic lesion are injected into a host mouse embryo, which is re-implanted into a recipient female. Some of these embryos develop into chimeric mice that possess germ cells partially derived from the mutant cell line. Therefore, by breeding the chimeric mice it is possible to obtain a new line of mice containing the introduced genetic lesion (see, e.g., Capecchi, et al. (1989) Science 244:1288-1292). Chimeric targeted mice can be derived according to Hogan, et al. (1988) Manipulating the Mouse Embryo; A Laboratory Manual CSH Press; and Robertson (ed. 1987) Teratocarcinomas and Embryonic Stem Cells: A Practical Approach IRL Press, Washington, D.C.

Other models can be constructed using non-genetic manipulation of animal models. One model in particular has been used extensively in small molecule screening. This model induces colitis in rats or mice by a single intracolonic challenge with a solution of the hapten 2,4-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS). Morris G P et al., Gastroenterology 96:795-803 (1989); Boughton-Smith N K, Br. J. Pharmacol. 94:65-72 (1988). Treatment with TNBS produces an intense local inflammatory response that reaches its nadir after 2 to 3 days, and can last up to 21 days, depending on the severity of the challenge.

The inflammatory response produced by TNBS treatment is considered to reproduce many of the macroscopic, histological, and immunological hallmarks of Crohn's disease. Grisham M B et al., Gastroenterology 101:540-547 (1991); Yamada Y et al., Gastroenterology 102:524-534 (1992); Torres M I et al., Dig. Dis. Sci 44:2523-29 (1999); Neruath M, Fuss I, Strober W, Int. Rev. Immunol. 19:51-62 (2000). Open ulceration is observed, with transmural inflammation and thickening of the bowel wall. Histological features include distorted crypt architecture, crypt atrophy, granulomata, giant cells, basal lymphoid aggregates, and the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate.

The model has been used to study and validate colonic inflammation, and address aspects of inflammatory bowel disease. Hoffman P et al., Gut 41:195-202 (1997); Jacobson K, McHugh K, Collins S M, Gastroenterology 112:156-62 (1997).

Other animal models include HLA-B27 transgenic rats (Hammer R E et al., Spontaneous inflammatory disease in transgenic rats expressing HLA-B27 and Human b2M: An animal model of HLA-B27 associated human disorders, Cell 63:1088-1112 (1990)), transgenic IL-2 deficient mice (Baumgart D C et al., Mechanisms of intestinal epithelial cell injury and colitis in interleukin 2 deficient mice, Cell Immunol. 187:52-66 (1998)), mdr1a deficient mice (Panwala C M et al., A Novel Model of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Mice deficient for the multiple drug resistance gene, mdr1a, spontaneously develop colitis, J. Immunol. 161:5733-44 (1998)), and IL 10 deficient mice (Freeman H J, Studies on the interleukin-10 gene in animal models of colitis, Canadian Gastroenterology (2003)).

Myeloma

Experimental in vivo models have been developed for the investigation of pathological processes of myeloma. Sartor R B, Aliment. Pharmacol. Ther. 11:89-96 (1997). For example, knock-out transgenic mice can be made, in which the myeloma gene is disrupted or in which a myeloma gene is inserted. Knock-out transgenic mice can be made by insertion of a marker gene or other heterologous gene into the endogenous myeloma gene site in the mouse genome via homologous recombination. Such mice can also be made by substituting the endogenous myeloma gene with a mutated version of the myeloma gene, or by mutating the endogenous myeloma gene, e.g., by exposure to carcinogens.

A DNA construct is introduced into the nuclei of embryonic stem cells. Cells containing the newly engineered genetic lesion are injected into a host mouse embryo, which is re-implanted into a recipient female. Some of these embryos develop into chimeric mice that possess germ cells partially derived from the mutant cell line. Therefore, by breeding the chimeric mice it is possible to obtain a new line of mice containing the introduced genetic lesion (see, e.g., Capecchi, et al. (1989) Science 244:1288-1292). Chimeric targeted mice can be derived according to Hogan, et al. (1988) Manipulating the Mouse Embryo: A Laboratory Manual CSH Press; and Robertson (ed. 1987) Teratocarcinomas and Embryonic Stem Cells: A Practical Approach IRL Press, Washington, D.C.

Other models can be constructed using non-genetic manipulation of animal models. For example, injecting C57BL/6J mice with B-cell tumors (e.g. LLC cells) can induce lung metastasis. Other animal models utilize SCID mice and inject B-cell tumor lines (e.g. HsSultan cells (ATCC) or multiple myeloma lines, (for example but not limited to, L363, LP-1, OPM-2, or RPMI 8226) to induce myeloma-like characteristics. Still other animal models include an NOD/SCID mouse model for human multiple myeloma generated by implanting human fetal bones (FBs) into subcutaneous sites of NOD/SCID mice, followed by inoculation with primary bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained from patients with multiple myeloma into the FBs. See Shang-Yi H., et al., Amer. J. Invest. Pathol. 164:747-756 (2004). Mouse plasmacytoma models, whose formation is induced through pristane oil (2,6,10,12-tetramethylpentadecane) treatment may also be used. In addition, mouse models in which injection of myeloma cells directly into the bone marrow (orthotopic injection model) of SCID, SCID/beige or NOD/SCID mice, may also be used.

Cells undergoing transformation, as in myeloma cells, release an increased amount of certain factors (hereinafter “myeloma specific markers”) than their normal counterparts. For example, CD38, CD9, CD10, HLA-DR, and CD20 are increased in expression in myeloma cells. Ruiz-Arugelles G J and San Miguel J F, Cell Surface Markers in Multiple Myeloma, Mayo Clin. Proc. 69:684-90 (1994).

Various techniques which measure the release of these factors are described in Freshney (1998), supra. Also, see, Unkeless, et al. (1974) J. Biol. Chem. 249:4295-4305; Strickland and Beers (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251:5694-5702; Whur, et al. (1980) Br. J. Cancer 42:305-312; Gullino “Angiogenesis, tumor vascularization, and potential interference with tumor growth” pp. 178-184 in Mihich (ed. 1985) Biological Responses in Cancer Plenum; Freshney (1985) Cancer Res. 5:111-130.

Therapeutic Methods Autoimmune Disease Treatment

In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of reducing the proliferation, adhesion, differentiation, activation and/or co-activation of leukocytes, comprising contacting the leukocytes with an antagonist of CS1 described herein.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of reducing the secretion (or production) of immunoglobulin by lymphocytes (such as B cells), comprising contacting the lymphocytes with an antagonist of CS1 described herein. Antagonists of the present invention can reduce the production of immunoglobulin (such as, IgM, IgG, IgD, IgA, and IgE) by at least 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50%. The percentage change is calculated by subtracting the immunoglobulin concentration prior to the administration of the first dose of the antibody (day 0) from the immunoglobulin concentration post dose (day x), dividing by the immunoglobulin concentration prior to the first dose (day 0), and multiplying by 100, e.g., [(day x−day 0)/day 0]×100.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of inducing apoptosis or cytolysis of cells expressing CS1 comprising contacting the cells with an antibody against CS1 described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the induction is achieved via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In general, antibodies of the present invention bind antigens on the surface of target cells (cells that express CS1) in the presence of effector cells (such as natural killer cells or macrophages). Fc receptors on effector cells recognize bound antibodies. The cross-linking of Fc receptors signals the effector cells to kill the target cells by cytolysis or apoptosis. Cytolysis can be detected via detection of either the release of label or lactate dehydrogenase from the lysed cells, or detection of reduced target cell viability (e.g. annexin assay). Assays for apoptosis may be performed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-11-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay (Lazebnik et al., Nature: 371, 346 (1994). Cytotoxicity may also be detected directly by detection kits known in the art, such as Cytotoxicity Detection Kit from Roche Applied Science (Indianapolis, 1N). Preferably, the antibodies of the present invention induce at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or 80% cytotoxicity of the target cells. The percentage is calculated by the methods disclosed in the Examples.

The antagonists can make contact with the leukocytes in vitro (such as, by adding the antagonists into a cell culture environment where the leukocytes are cultivated), ex vivo, or in vivo (for example, by administering the antagonists into a subject).

In a preferred embodiment, the leukocytes are a) activated lymphocytes, such as B cells and/or T cells, preferably CD19⁺ B cells and/or CD3⁺ T cells; b) CD14⁺ activated and/or näive cells; c) activated and/or unactivated dendritic cells; and/or c) CD56⁺ NK and/or NKT cells.

In a preferred aspect, the present invention provides for a method of reducing the secretion of immunoglobulin by B cells, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of an antagonist of CS1 into said subject.

In another preferred aspect the present invention provides for a method of inducing cytotoxicity, cytolysis, and/or apoptosis of cells expressing CS1 in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of an antibody of CS1 into said subject.

The antagonists, preferably antibodies of the present invention, can be used for the prevention or treatment of autoimmune diseases, including, but not limited to, Addison's disease, autoimmune diseases of the ear, autoimmune diseases of the eye such as uveitis, autoimmune hepatitis, Crohn's disease, diabetes (Type I), epididymitis, glomerulonephritis, Graves' disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Hashimoto's disease, hemolytic anemia, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, pemphigus vulgaris, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis, scleroderma, psoriasis, Sjogren's syndrome, spondyloarthropathies, thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis and/or vasculitis.

In a preferred embodiment, the autoimmune disease that can be prevented and/or treated with the methods of the present invention is SLE, RA, or IBD. After being administered into a subject who has developed the symptoms of SLE, RA, or IBD, the anti-CS1 antibodies should be able to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Alternatively, the anti-CS1 antibodies can be administered to a subject before the subject developed any clinical manifestations of SLE, RA, or IBD. Such a preventive administration of the antibodies should completely prevent the subject from developing any SLE, RA, or IBD symptoms or at least prevent the subject from developing as severe symptoms as in the condition without the antibody treatment. The severity of symptoms of SLE, RA, or IBD can be measured by the standard clinical test for SLE, RA, or IBD known in the art, such as serum level of anti-DNA antibodies, proteinuria, and the mortality rate of the patients.

Therapeutic methods are usually applied to human patients but may be applied to other mammals.

Cancer Treatment

Therapeutic methods for reducing the proliferation of myeloma cells is also included, comprising contacting myeloma cells with an antagonist of a myeloma protein, preferably an antibody or other antagonist, such as the CS1 antibodies described herein. For example, the antibodies can make contact with myeloma cells in vitro (such as, by adding the antagonists into a cell culture environment where the myeloma cells are cultivated), ex vivo, or in vivo (for example, by administering the antagonists into a subject). In another aspect, the present invention provides for a method of reducing the proliferation of myeloma cells, comprising administering an effective amount of a myeloma protein antagonist into said subject.

In one aspect, the antagonists, preferably antibodies of the present invention, can be used for the prevention or treatment of myeloma. After being administered into a subject who has developed the symptoms of myeloma, the antibodies or antagonist should be able to reduce the severity of the symptoms. Alternatively, the antibodies of the present invention can be administered to a subject before the subject developed any clinical manifestations of myeloma. The severity of symptoms of myeloma can be measured by the standard clinical test for myeloma known in the art, such as bone-density X-ray analysis, beta-2 microglobulin levels or hypercalcemia. Therapeutic methods are usually applied to human patients but may be applied to other mammals.

In yet another aspect, the present invention is directed to a method of inducing apoptosis or cytolysis of cells expressing CS1 comprising contacting the cells with an antibody against CS1 described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the induction is achieved via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). In general, antibodies of the present invention bind antigens on the surface of target cells (cells that express CS1) in the presence of effector cells (such as natural killer cells or macrophages). Fc receptors on effector cells recognize bound antibodies. The cross-linking of Fc receptors signals the effector cells to kill the target cells by cytolysis or apoptosis. Cytolysis can be detected via detection of either the release of label or lactate dehydrogenase from the lysed cells, or detection of reduced target cell viability (e.g. annexin assay). Assays for apoptosis may be performed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated digoxigenin-11-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay (Lazebnik et al., Nature: 371, 346 (1994). Cytotoxicity may also be detected directly by detection kits known in the art, such as Cytotoxicity Detection Kit from Roche Applied Science (Indianapolis, Ind.). Preferably, the antibodies of the present invention induce at least 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 60%, or 80% cytotoxicity of the target cells. The percentage is calculated by the methods disclosed in the Examples.

The antagonists can also make contact with leukocytes in vitro (such as, by adding the antagonists into a cell culture environment where the leukocytes are cultivated), ex vivo, or in vivo (for example, by administering the antagonists into a subject).

In a preferred embodiment, the leukocytes are a) activated lymphocytes, such as B cells and/or T cells, preferably CD19⁺ B cells and/or CD3⁺ T cells; b) CD14⁺ activated and/or näive cells; c) activated and/or unactivated dendritic cells; and/or c) CD56⁺ NK and/or NKT cells.

In a preferred aspect, the present invention provides for a method of reducing the secretion of immunoglobulin by B cells, in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of an antagonist of CS1 into said subject. Such reduction of immunoglobulin secretion by B cells may help relieve complications of myeloma, including hyperviscosity syndrome.

In another preferred aspect the present invention provides for a method of inducing cytotoxicity, cytolysis, and/or apoptosis of cells expressing CS1 in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering an effective amount of an antibody of CS1 into said subject.

Administration of Therapeutic Agents

There are various methods of administering the antagonists, for example, antibodies of the present invention. Parenteral administration is preferred. The antibody may be administered to a patient intravenously as a bolus or by continuous infusion over a period of time; or by intramuscular, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal, or intra-cerebrospinal routes. Oral, topical, inhalation routes, or other delivery means known to those skilled in the art are also included in the present invention.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention commonly comprise a solution of antagonists (for example, antibodies), or a cocktail thereof dissolved in an acceptable carrier, preferably an aqueous carrier. A variety of aqueous carriers can be used, e.g., water for injection (WFI), or water buffered with phosphate, citrate, acetate, etc. to a pH typically of 5.0 to 8.0, most often 6.0 to 7.0, and/or containing salts such as sodium chloride, potassium chloride, etc. to make isotonic. The carrier can also contain excipients such as human serum albumin, polysorbate 80, sugars or amino acids to protect the active protein. The concentration of an antagonist (for example, antibody) in these formulations varies widely from about 0.1 to 100 mg/ml but is often in the range 1 to 10 mg/ml. The formulated monoclonal antibody is particularly suitable for parenteral administration, and can be administered as an intravenous infusion or by subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injection. Actual methods for preparing parentally administrable compositions are known or apparent to those skilled in the art and are described in more detail in, for example, Remington's Pharmaceutical Science (15th Ed., Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., 1980), which is incorporated herein by reference. The present invention provides for a pharmaceutical composition comprising any one of the antibodies described herein.

The compositions can be administered for prophylactic and/or therapeutic treatments, comprising inhibiting the interactions between a CS1 and its cellular substrate, inhibiting the adhesion of diseased cells, or preventing and/or reducing the clinical symptoms of the disorders above. An amount adequate to accomplish any one of these desired effects is defined as an “effective amount”. The antibodies can be delivered into a patient by single or multiple administrations.

For the purpose of treatment of disease, the appropriate dosage of the antagonists (for example, antibodies) will depend on the severity and course of disease, the patient's clinical history and response, the toxicity of the antibodies, and the discretion of the attending physician. The antagonists are suitably administered to the patient at one time or over a series of treatments. The initial candidate dosage may be administered to a patient. The proper dosage and treatment regimen can be established by monitoring the progress of therapy using conventional techniques known to the people skilled of the art.

Additionally, the antagonist (such as antibodies) can be utilized alone in substantially pure form, or together with therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases known to those of skill in the art. Other therapies that may be used in conjunction with treatment with the antibodies include administration of anti-sense nucleic acid molecules or biologicals, such as additional therapeutic antibodies. Thus, the treatment of the present invention is formulated in a manner allowing it to be administered serially or in combination with another agent for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. For treating autoimmune disorders and myeloma, the antibody will often be administered after or in combination with one or more other immunosuppressive drugs and immunomodulators.

Kits for Use in Diagnostic and/or Prognostic Applications

For use in diagnostic and research applications suggested above, kits are also provided by the invention. In diagnostic and research applications, such kits may include at least one of the following: assay reagents, buffers, CS1-specific nucleic acids or antibodies, hybridization probes and/or primers, antisense polynucleotides, ribozymes, dominant negative CS1 polypeptides or polynucleotides, small molecule inhibitors of CS1-associated sequences etc.

In addition, the kits may include instructional materials containing instructions (e.g., protocols) for the practice of the methods of this invention. While the instructional materials typically comprise written or printed materials, they are not limited to such. A medium capable of storing such instructions and communicating them to an end user is contemplated by this invention. Such media include, but are not limited to, electronic storage media (e.g., magnetic discs, tapes, cartridges, chips), optical media (e.g., CD ROM), and the like. Such media may include addresses to internet sites that provide such instructional materials.

The present invention also provides for kits for screening for modulators of CS1-associated sequences. Such kits can be prepared from readily available materials and reagents. For example, such kits can comprise one or more of the following materials: a CS1-associated polypeptide or polynucleotide, reaction tubes, and instructions for testing CS1-associated activity. Optionally, the kit contains biologically active CS1 protein. A wide variety of kits and components can be prepared according to the present invention, depending upon the intended user of the kit and the particular needs of the user. Diagnosis would typically involve evaluation of a plurality of genes or products. The genes will typically be selected based on correlations with important parameters in disease which may be identified in historical or outcome data.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Isolation and Identification of CS1

CS1 was identified from a cDNA subtraction library of B-cell subsets (näive vs. memory+plasma B cells) from normal healthy adult peripheral blood. CS1 was preferentially expressed among the memory and plasma B cells. Subtraction libraries were produced by following the protocol described below:

Isolation of B-Cell Subsets:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from nine healthy adult donors with standard Ficoll-hypaque gradients. B cells were isolated from the PBMCs by following a standard negative selection protocol. PBMCs were incubated in an antibody cocktail of purified mouse anti-human CD2, CD3, CD4, CD14, CD16, CD56, CD66 and glycophorin A. After incubation and washing, goat-anti-mouse magnetic Dynal beads were added at 7-10 beads per cell. Subsequently, the antibody-bound cells were isolated with a standard Dynal magnetic holder to leave enriched B cells in the supernatants. The collected supernatants were then washed with RPMI+10% fetal bovine serum (FBS).

Sorting of B-Cell Subsets (Naïve Vs. Memory+Plasma B Cells):

Dynal-enriched B cells were stained with IgD-FITC, CD38-cychrome, CD19-APC, and CD27-PE by following the standard staining protocols. The two separate populations of naïve B cells (IgD⁺CD19⁺CD38^(int/−)CD27⁻) versus memory and plasma B cells (IgD⁻CD19⁺CD38^(int/+)CD27⁺) were sorted on a MoFlo High Performance Flow cytometer-MLS, which is equipped with a spectra physics air-cooled argon laser (488 nm) and a 635-nm diode laser and with filters for detection of FITC at 530/40 nm, PE at 580/30 nm, APC at 670/20 mm, and cychrome (PE-Cy5) at 670/30 nm. The sorted B cells were analyzed on the MoFlo cytometer for purity and were found to be of 97% (memory and plasma B cells) and 98% (naïve B cells) purity. The sorted cells were placed in Trizol and stored at −70° C.

cDNA Library Production:

The cDNA subtraction libraries were made from the sorted B cell subsets by using a standard representational difference analysis subtractive hybridization protocol. The subtraction libraries included the memory+plasma B cell cDNA library, where the naïve cDNA was subtracted twice, and the naïve B cell cDNA library, where the memory+plasma cDNA was subtracted twice. With standard molecular biology techniques, the cDNA subtraction library was ligated into a standard plasmid vector and transformed into electrocompetent E. coli (DH-10B) cells. The transformed E. coli cells were plated on LB agar plates in the presence of selection antibiotics. Single bacterial colonies, each representing one specific insert, were amplified using standard colony PCR.

Screening and Confirming Differential Expression:

The cDNA subtraction library inserts were denatured and blotted onto 2 identical nylon filters and hybridized separately with two different labeled, denatured probes−(memory+plasma)−naïve cDNA (subtracted twice) and naïve−(memory+plasma) cDNA (subtracted twice). A subtraction library cDNA insert was considered positive if the insert selectively hybridized preferentially with one of the two probes. The cDNA clones for CS1 hybridized preferentially with the (memory+plasma)−naïve cDNA probe (twice subtracted.)

Identification of CS1:

Bacterial cells transformed with positive clones were grown and DNA was isolated with a Qiagen® Mini-Prep kit (in vitro diagnostic preparations) following the manufacturer's protocol (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.). The purified plasmids were sequenced and the identity of the DNA sequence was determined by searching NCBI databases.

Characterization and Confirmation of CS1 Gene Expression:

Preferential expression of the selected positive clones, including CS1, was confirmed by dot blot analysis. Equal amounts of (unsubtracted) cDNA (20 ng) isolated from sorted naïve versus memory+plasma B cells were spotted on nylon filters and hybridized with labeled cDNA insert for the positive clone. For these assays, cDNA was synthesized from peripheral blood B cell subsets obtained from 2 separate sorts (n=9 healthy adults and n=10 healthy adults, purity >97% and >98%, respectively). Filters were washed and signal from hybridized probes was detected by autoradiography. A clone was considered positive if cDNA hybridized preferentially to the memory+plasma B cell cDNA across both sets of sorted naïve versus memory+plasma B cells. As shown in FIG. 1A, the data indicated that CS1 is expressed predominantly in plasma and memory B cells.

CS1 is Expressed Primarily in Lymphoid Tissue:

Dot blots were prepared from cDNA synthesized from polyA⁺ RNA, which was purchased from Clontech (Palo Alto, Calif.) and made from the following tissues: spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, small intestine, brain, lung, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, and liver. Dot blots were probed with digoxygenin (DIG) labeled CS1 DNA and visualized by chemiluminescence (alkaline phosphatase labeled anti-DIG antibody and CDP-Star) following the manufacturer's recommendations (Boehringer-Mannheim DIG kit). As shown in FIG. 1B, the results indicate that CS1 is expressed primarily in lymphoid tissues (spleen, lymph node, bone marrow and small intestine possibly due to residual lymphocytes in Peyer's patches) and is absent or low in other non-lymphoid organs (brain, lung, skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, and liver).

Example 2 Differential Expression of CS1 Human Cells:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained by isolation from standard Ficoll-hypaque gradients. Isolated PBMCs were then resuspended at 2×10⁶ cells/ml in a fresh culture medium. PBMCs were stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) at a concentration of 3 μg/ml for 3 days, or with pokeweed mitogen (PWM) at a concentration of 10 μg/ml for 8 days. Unstimulated control PBMCs were prepared without any stimulus. Cells were cultured at 37° C. in 7% CO₂ in RPMI medium with 10% FBS, penicillin, streptomycin, and glucose additives.

Mouse Cells:

Spleens were obtained from two Balb/c mice. The spleens were placed on 100 micron filter. Cells were disaggregated and washed with PBS, and centrifuged at 1,500 rpm for 10 minutes. Red blood cells were lysed with 2 ml of lysis buffer at 37° C. for 2 minutes. Cells were washed twice, resuspended in 10 ml of the medium and counted. A portion of the unstimulated cells was frozen directly. The remaining cells were stimulated with con A at a concentration of 5 μg/ml for 3 days, or with LPS at a concentration of 1 μg/ml for 3 days. Cells were cultured in a DMEM medium with 10% FBS, antibiotics, and glucose additives.

B Lymphocytes from Lupus Patient Versus Age-Matched Healthy Individuals:

B cells were sorted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of lupus patient and healthy individuals, by staining the cells with FITC-labeled anti-human CD19 antibody. Cells were sorted on a MoFLo High Performance Flow Cytometer-MLS as described in Example 1. Cells were collected into sterile medium for RNA synthesis.

Total RNA Isolation for Real-Time PCR:

Cells were washed once and placed in Trizol™ (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.), and total RNA was isolated following the manufacturer's protocol. Total RNA was treated with RNase-free DNase (GenHunter, Nashville, Tenn.). DNase-digested RNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform and precipitated overnight with ethanol. RNA was washed with 75% ethanol and dissolved in nuclease-free water. The isolated RNA was quantitated and its integrity was analyzed on an agarose gel.

Real-Time PCR:

Total RNA (2 μg) was reverse-transcribed from the lupus patient's versus healthy individuals' sorted B lymphocytes in 100 μl of reaction mixture by using standard Taqman reverse transcription reagents (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.). PCR reactions were set up using SYBR green PCR master mix from Applied Biosystems. CS1 primers were incorporated in the mix to examine the expression levels of CS1 in lupus patient's and healthy individuals' cDNA. CS1 primers were designed from the published sequences (Genbank accession number XM-001635, AF390894). β-Actin and 18S rRNA primers were used as controls for normalization. The primers were designed using Primer Express software purchased from Applied Biosystems. The PCR amplified products were 85 bp for CS1 primers, 84 bp for β-actin primers, and 61 bp for 18S rRNA primers. Real-Time PCR was performed in a GeneAmp 5700 SDS system from Applied Biosystems, using the recommended protocol.

Real-Time PCR of Mouse Novel Ly9:

Total RNA (2 μg) was reverse transcribed from conA, LPS, and unstimulated samples in 100 μl of reaction mixture using standard Taqman reverse transcription reagents (Applied Biosystems). A PCR reaction was set up using SYBR green PCR master mix from Applied Biosystems. Primers specific for mouse novel Ly9 were designed from the published sequence (Genbank accession number AF467909) and incorporated in the mix to examine the expression levels in stimulated vs. unstimulated cDNA samples. The 18S rRNA primers were used for normalization. The primers were designed by using Primer Express software purchased from Applied Biosystems. The PCR amplified products were 65 bp for the mouse Ly9 primers and 61 bp for the 18S rRNA primers. Real-Time PCR was performed in a GeneAmp 5700 Sequence Detection System from Applied Biosystems, using the recommended protocol.

Microarray Assays: Sample Preparation, Labeling Microchips and Fingerprints

Expression profiles of activated and non-activated leukocytes populations were determined and analyzed using gene chips. The custom Affymetrix GeneChip® oligonucleotide microarray allows interrogation of approximately 35,000 unique mRNA transcripts.

RNA was isolated and gene chip analysis was performed as described (See Henshall et al. (2003) Cancer Research 63:4196-4203; Henshall et al. (2003) Oncogene 22:6005-12; Glynne, et al. (2000) Nature 403:672-676; Zhao, et al. (2000) Genes Dev. 14:981-993, herein incorporated in its entirety).

Purify Poly A+ mRNA from Total RNA or Clean Up Total RNA with Qiagen's RNEASY® (Purification of Poly A⁺ mRNA from Total RNA) Kit

The oligotex suspension was heated to 37° C. and mixed immediately before adding to RNA. The Elution Buffer was incubated at 70° C. Note that the 2× Binding Buffer may be warned up at 65° C. if there is precipitate in the buffer. Total RNA was mixed with DEPC-treated water, 2× Binding Buffer, and Oligotex according to Table 2 on page 16 of the Oligotex Handbook. The mixture was incubated for 3 minutes at 65° C., and then incubated for 10 minutes at room temperature.

The tubes were centrifuged for 2 minutes at 14,000 to 18,000 g. Note that if the centrifuge has a “soft setting,” it should be used. The supernatant was removed without disturbing the Oligotex pellet. A small amount of solution may be left behind to reduce the loss of Oligotex. The supernatant should be saved until certain that satisfactory binding and elution of poly A⁺ mRNA has occurred.

The pellet was gently resuspended in Wash Buffer OW2 and pipetted onto the spin column. The spin column was centrifuged at full speed (soft setting if possible) for 1 minute. After centrifugation, the spin column was transferred to a new collection tube and gently resuspended in Wash Buffer OW2 and re-centrifuged as describe herein.

The spin column was transferred to a new tube and eluted with 20 to 100 μl of preheated (70° C.) Elution Buffer. The Oligotex resin was gently resuspended by pipetting up and down, and then centrifuged as above. The elution procedure was repeated with fresh elution buffer. Otherwise if low elution volume is necessary, the first eluate only may be used.

The absorbance was read, using diluted Elution Buffer as the blank.

Ethanol Precipitation

Before proceeding with cDNA synthesis, the mRNA was precipitated. Some component leftover or in the Elution Buffer from the Oligotex purification procedure will inhibit downstream enzymatic reactions of the mRNA.

0.4 vol. of 7.5 M NH₄OAc+2.5 vol. of cold 100% ethanol was added to the eluate. The solution was precipitated at −20° C. 1 hour to overnight (or 20-30 min. at −70° C.). The precipitated solution was centrifuged at 14,000-16,000×g for 30 minutes at 4° C. The pellet was washed with 0.5 ml of 80% ethanol (−20° C.) then centrifuged at 14,000-16,000×g for 5 minutes at room temperature. The 80% ethanol wash was repeated 1×. The pellet was dried in the hood. (Do not speed vacuum). The pellet was suspended in DEPC H₂0 at 1 ug/μl concentration.

Cleaning Up Total RNA Using Qiagen's RNeasy Kit

No more than 100 μg RNA should be added to an RNeasy column. The sample volume was adjusted to 100 μl with RNase-free water, and 350 μl Buffer RLT then 250 μl ethanol (100%) was added to the sample. The solution was mixed by pipetting (do not centrifuge) then the sample applied to an RNeasy mini spin column. The mini spin column was centrifuged for 15 sec at >10,000 rpm. If concerned about yield, the flowthrough can be reapplied to the column and centrifuged again.

The column was transferred to a new 2-ml collection tube and 500 μl of Buffer RPE was added and centrifuged for 15 sec at >10,000 rpm. The flowthrough was discarded. 500 μl Buffer RPE was added to the mini-spin column again, and centrifuged for 15 sec at >10,000 rpm. The flowthrough was again discarded, then centrifuged for 2 min at maximum speed to dry column membrane. The column was transferred to a new 1.5-ml collection tube and 30-50 μl of RNase-free water was applied directly onto column membrane. The column was centrifuged for 1 min at >10,000 rpm, and the elution repeated.

An absorbance reading was taken. If necessary, the eluate may be precipitated with ammonium acetate and 2.5× volume 100% ethanol.

Making cDNA Using Gibco's “SUPERSCRIPT® Choice System for cDNA Synthesis” Kit

First Strand cDNA Synthesis

5 ug of total RNA or 1 ug of polyA+ mRNA was used as starting material. For total RNA, 2 μl of SUPERSCRIPT® RT (kit with reverse transcriptase for cDNA synthesis) was used (for polyA+ mRNA, use 1 μl of SUPERSCRIPT® RT). The final volume of the first strand synthesis mix should be 20 μl. RNA must be in a volume no greater than 10 μl. The RNA was incubated with 1 μl of 100 pmol T7-T24 oligo for 10 min at 70 C. On ice, 7 μl of: 4 μl 5×1^(st) Strand Buffer, 24 of 0.1M DTT, and 1 μl of 10 mM dNTP mix was added. The mixture was incubated at 37 C for 2 min, then SUPERSCRIPTS RT was added.

The mixture was incubated at 37° C. for 1 hour.

Second Strand Synthesis

The 1^(st) strand reactions were placed on ice. To the mixture was added:

91 μl DEPC H20

30 μl 5×2^(nd) Strand Buffer

3 μl 10 mM dNTP mix

1 μl 10 U/μl E. coli DNA Ligase

4 μl 10 U/μl E. coli DNA Polymerase

1 μl 2 U/μl RNase H

The above should be made into a mix if there are more than 2 samples. The added mixture was incubated for 2 hours at 16 C.

2 μl T4 DNA Polymerase was added and further incubated for 5 min at 16 C. 10 μl of 0.5M EDTA was added to stop the reaction.

Clean Up cDNA

The cDNA was cleaned up using Phenol:Chloroform:Isoamyl Alcohol (25:24:1) purification in gel tubes:

The PLG (phase lock gel) tubes were centrifuged for 30 sec at maximum speed, and transferred to a new PLG tube. An equal volume of phenol:chloroform:isamyl alcohol was added and shaken vigorously (do not vortex). The tubes were centrifuged for 5 minutes at maximum speed. The top aqueous layer solution was transferred to a new tube. The aqueous solution was ethanol precipitated by adding 7.5×5M NH4Oac and 2.5× volume of 100% ethanol. The tubes were centrifuged immediately at room temp. for 20 min, maximum speed. The supernatant was removed and the pellet washed 2× with cold 80% ethanol. Remove as much ethanol wash as possible then let pellet air dry. The pellet was resuspended in 3 μl RNase-free water.

In Vitro Transcription (IVT) and Labeling with Biotin

1.5 μl of cDNA was pipetted into a thin-wall PCR tube. NTP labeling mix was added at room temperature to the PCR tube.

NTP labeling mix: 2 μl T7 10xATP (75 mM) (Ambion) 2 μl T7 10xGTP (75 mM) (Ambion) 1.5 μl   T7 10xCTP (75 mM) (Ambion) 1.5 μl   T7 10xUTP (75 mM) (Ambion) 3.75 μl   10 mM Bio-11-CTP 0.75 μl   10 mM Bio-16-UTP 2 μl 10x T7 transcription buffer (Ambion) 2 μl 10x T7 enzyme mix (Ambion)

The final volume of the total reaction was 20 μl. The tubes were incubated for 6 hours at 37° C. in a PCR machine.

RNeasy Clean-Up of IVT Product

See above for procedure.

The labeled cRNA is ethanol precipitated and resuspended in a volume compatible with the fragmentation step.

Fragmentation

Approximately 15 ug of labeled RNA was fragmented using the following technique. The fragmentation reaction volume was minimized to approximately 10 μl volume, but not more than 20 μl due to magnesium precipitation problems with the hybridization buffer.

The RNA was fragmented by incubating at 94° C. for 35 minutes in 1× Fragmentation buffer.

5× Fragmentation Buffer:

200 mM Tris-acetate, pH 8.1

500 mM KOAc

150 mM MgOAc

The labeled RNA transcript was analyzed before and after fragmentation. Samples were heated to 65° C. for 15 minutes and electrophoresed on 1% agarose/TBE gels to get an approximate idea of the transcript size range

Microchip Array

The EOS HuO3 microchip array used in all experiments is a customized Affymetric GENECHIP® oligonucleotide array comprising 59,680 probesets representing 46,000 unique sequences including both known and FGENESH predicted exons that were based on the first draft of the human genome. The Hu03 probesets consist of perfect match probes only, most probesets having 6 or 7 probes.

Hybridization on Microchip Array

200 μl (10 ug cRNA) of hybridization mix was pipetted onto the chip. If multiple hybridizations are to be done (such as cycling through a 5 chip set), then it is recommended that an initial hybridization mix of 300 μl or more be made.

Hybridization Mix: fragmented labeled RNA (50 ng/μl final conc.)

50 pM 948-b control oligo

1.5 pM BioB

5 pM BioC

25 pM BioD

100 pM CRE

0.1 mg/ml herring sperm DNA

0.5 mg/ml acetylated BSA

to 300 μl with 1×MES hybridization buffer

Hybridization signals were visualized using phycoerythrin-conjugated streptavidin.

Normalization of the Gene Expression Data

The gene expression data was normalized by fitting the probe-level intensity data from each array to a fixed γ-distribution, using an inverse γ function to map the empirical cumulative distribution of intensities to the desired γ distribution. This procedure is akin to other per-chip normalization procedures, such as fixing the mean and SD of each chip to a standard value, except it is more stringent in that it fixes the entire distribution of intensities rather than one or two parameters. The purpose of per-chip normalization is to remove between-chip variations, on the assumption that it is attributable to nonbiological factors, i.e. technical noise. The scale parameter for the distribution was chosen to yield a distribution with an arbitrary mean value of 300, and the shape parameter of 0.81 was chosen to reproduce the typical shape of the empirical distribution seen in good samples.

A single measure of average intensity was calculated for each probeset using Tukey's trimean of the intensity of the constituent probes. The trimean is a measure of central tendency that is resistant to the effects of outliers. Finally, a background subtraction was applied to each average intensity measure to correct for nonspecific hybridization. The average intensity measure of a “null” probeset consisting of 491 probesets with scrambled sequence was subtracted from all of the other probesetsw on the chip.

The instruction manuals for the products used herein are incorporated herein in their entirety.

Labeling Protocol Provided Herein

Hybridization Reaction:

Start with non-biotinylated IVT (purified by RNeasy columns)

(see example 1 for steps from tissue to IVT)

IVT atisense RNA; 4 μg:   μl Random Hexamers (1 μg/μl):  4 μl H₂O:   μl Total Volume: 14 μl

-   -   Incubate 70° C., 10 min. Put on ice.

Reverse transcription: 5X First Strand (BRL) buffer: 6 μl 0.1 M DTT: 3 μl 50X dNTP mix: 0.6 μl   H2O: 2.4 μl   Cy3 or Cy5 dUTP (1 mM): 3 μl SS RT II (BRL): 1 μl Total volume: 16 μl 

-   -   Add to hybridization reaction.     -   Incubate 30 min., 42° C.     -   Add 1 μl SSII and let go for another hour.

Put on ice.

-   -   50×dNTP mix (25 mM of cold dATP, dCTP, and dGTP, 10 mM of dTTP:         25 μl each of 100 mM dATP, dCTP, and dGTP; 10 μl of 100 mM dTTP         to 15 μl H2O)

RNA Degradation:

-   -   Add 1.5 μl 1M NaOH/2 mM EDTA, incubate at 65° C., 10 min.

H₂O 86 μl 10N NaOH 10 μl 50 mM EDTA  4 μl

U-Con 30

500 μl TE/sample spin at 7000 g for 10 min, save flow through for purification

Qiagen Purification:

-   -   suspend u-con recovered material in 500 μl buffer PB     -   proceed w/normal Qiagen protocol

DNAse Digest:

-   -   Add 1 μl of 1/100 dil of DNAse/30 μl Rx and incubate at 37° C.         for 15 min.     -   5 min 95° C. to denature enzyme

Sample Preparation:

-   -   Add:

Cot-1 DNA:  10 μl 50X dNTPs:   1 μl 20X SSC: 2.3 μl Na pyro phosphate: 7.5 μl

10 mg/ml Herring sperm DNA 1 μl of 1/10 dilution

Final Volume: 21.8 μl

-   -   Dry down in speed vac.     -   Resuspend in 15 μl H₂0.     -   Add 0.38 μl 10% SDS.     -   Heat 95° C., 2 min.     -   Slow cool at room temp for 20 min.

Put on slide and hybridize overnight at 64° C.

Washing after the Hybridization:

3X SSC/0.03% SDS: 2 min. 37.5 mls 20X SSC + 0.75 mls 10% SDS in 250 mls H₂O 1X SSC: 5 min. 12.5 mls 20X SSC in 250 mls H₂O 0.2X SSC: 5 min. 2.5 mls 20X SSC in 250 mls H₂O

Dry slides in centrifuge, 1000 RPM, 1 min.

Scan at appropriate Photomultiplier Tube settings and fluorescence channels.

CS1 is Over-Expressed in Leukocytes but not in Various Types of Nonlymphoid Tissues

To evaluate the expression profile of CS1, mRNA isolated from leukocytes and other tissues was analyzed by real-time PCR. As shown in FIG. 2A, the mRNA expression level was much higher in leukocytes than that of most other normal adult tissues. Other normal adult tissues that did not show CS1 expression above baseline levels included adipose, adrenal gland, aorta, aortic valve, appendix, coronary artery, bladder, bone, bone marrow, breast, bronchus, cervix, brain, spinal cord, diaphragm, endometrium, epididymis, esophagus, gallbladder, ganglion, heart, larynx, lip, liver, lung, muscle, myometrium, vagus nerve, omentum, oral mucosa, ovary, pancreas, parathyroid, pharyngeal mucosa, placenta, prostate, retina, salivary gland, skin, stomach, synovium, testis, thymus, thyroid, tongue, trachea, umbilical cord, ureter, uterus, vagina, or vein. CS1 mRNA was expressed in selected samples of colon (2/11), kidney (1/20), small intestine (1/3), spleen, and tonsil (2/4). The results indicated that CS1 is primarily expressed in leukocytes and should be a good target for autoimmune diseases.

CS1 Expression Increases in Multiple Activated Leukocyte Populations

To evaluate the correlation between the CS1 expression and activation of leukocytes, CS1 mRNA expression was analyzed in multiple activated and non-activated leukocytes populations. As shown in FIG. 2B, CS1 expression increased in activated B cells, mature DC cells, activated CD3 cells (low to moderate increase), activated CD4 cells (low level increase), and activated CD8 cells (low to moderate increase, depending on donor) in comparison to their corresponding non-activated control populations. These results indicated that CS1 over-expression correlates with the activation of several leukocyte subsets.

Example 3 Production of Antigens for Generating Monoclonal Antibodies Against CS1 Cloning:

The extracellular domain (ECD) of CS1 was isolated from Raji cells using primers flanking the extracellular domain of CS1 (CS1 ECD). The PCR product was gel purified and ligated into a vector encoding the constant region of IgG3 (human Fc-γ3). The plasmid containing CS1 ECD-Fcγ3 was purified on a large scale and confirmed by DNA sequencing.

CS1 ECD-Fc γ3 Stable Transfection:

50 μg of CS1 ECD-Fcγ3 plasmid was linearized with Fsp1 enzyme, and the DNA was precipitated in ethanol, washed, and resuspended in 500 μl of sterile PBS. NSO cells were washed twice in cold PBS, and resuspended at 2×10⁷ per one ml of PBS. An amount of 1×10⁷ cells was used for transfection.

500 μl of NSO cells were combined with 500 μl of DNA in PBS. Cells were electroporated at 1.5V and 3 μF by a BioRad Gene pulser. Cells were added to 100 ml of DMEM complete media and plated into ten 96-well plates. Mycophenolic selection media at 1 μg/ml was added 24 hours after the transfection. Positive transfectants were screened after day 10 and expanded into 48- and 24-well plates. Positive transfectants were re-screened and high producers were expanded for protein purification.

Purification of CS1 ECD-Fcγ3 Protein:

Stable transfectants expressing the CS1-ECD Fcγ3 fusion protein were expanded into 600 ml of DMEM complete media with glucose additives for five days. The fusion protein was purified on a protein G Sepharose column and dialyzed against 1×PBS. Reduced and non-reduced forms of CS1 ECD-Fc γ3 were analyzed by Coomassie. CS1 ECD Fcγ3 was also analyzed by Western blot using anti-HuIgG, and confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. The purified CS1-Fc-γ3 fusion protein was used to immunize mice.

Production of CS1 ECD-myc-GPI Fusion Protein:

The extracellular domain (ECD) of CS1 was isolated from Raji cells using primers flanking the extracellular domain of CS1. The PCR product was gel-purified and litigated into a vector expressing a myc tag and glycosyl phosphatidylinositol linkage for cell surface expression (myc-GPI vector). The plasmid containing CS1 ECD-myc-GPI was purified on a large scale and confirmed by DNA sequencing.

CS1 ECD-myc-GPI Stable Transfection:

50 μg of CS1 ECD-myc-GPI plasmid was linearized with Fsp1 enzyme, and the DNA was precipitated in ethanol, washed, and resuspended in 500 μl of sterile PBS. NSO cells were washed twice in cold PBS and resuspended at 2×10⁸ per one ml of PBS. An amount of 1×10⁸ cells was used for transfection.

500 μl of NSO cells were combined with 500 μl of DNA in PBS. Cells were electroporated at 1.5 V and 3° F. by a Biorad Gene pulser. Cells were grown in at 37° C. in 5% CO₂ with 1 μg/ml of mycophenolic selection, and were later subcloned into 96-well plates. Positive transfectants were screened with anti-myc antibody. High producers of CS1 ECD-myc-GPI transfectants were selected and expanded for in vitro assays.

Example 3 Production of Anti-CS1 Monoclonal Antibodies Immunogens for Human CS1:

The purified recombinant human CS1 ECD-γ3 fusion protein was used to immunize Balb/c mice via footpads (CS1 ECD refers to the extracellular domain of CS1 described above). Briefly, mice were immunized in the hind footpads with 10 μg protein with an equal volume of Ribi adjuvant in a total volume of 25 μl. Footpad immunizations were performed 4 times at 4- or 5-day intervals.

a. Cell Fusion:

Two mice immunized with CS1 ECD-γ3 were sacrificed. The popliteal femoral and sacral lymph nodes were removed from the mice. Lymphocytes were isolated from the tissues, and hybridomas were generated by standard procedures. Briefly, hybridomas were generated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) 1500 mediated fusion between lymphocytes and a murine myeloma cell line (NSO cells). Fused cells were plated into 96-well plates at a density of 10⁷ cells per plate. Selection of fused cells was accomplished using HAT (hypoxanthine, aminopterin, thymidine) media.

b. Screening of Hybridomas

Specificity of antibodies secreted by hybridomas was determined by a flow cytometry (FACS) based binding assay to CS1 expressing cells. FACS assay was performed using standard protocols. NSO stable transfectants expressing surface CS1 extracellular domain (2×10⁵) were resuspended in 50 μl ice cold PBS with 50 μl hybridoma culture supernatant on ice for 1 hour. After extensive washing, cells were incubated with phycoerythrin-conjugated goat anti-mouse IgG specific antibodies for 1 hour on ice. Cells were washed again and cell-surface-bound antibodies were detected by FACS using a Becton Dickinson FACScan. As shown in Table 1, the antibodies: Luc2, Luc3, Luc15, Luc20, Luc22, Luc23, Luc29, Luc32, Luc34, Luc35, Luc37, Luc38, Luc39, Luc56, Luc60, Luc63, or Luc90, bound strongly to the NSO-CS1 cells transfected with CS1, but not to NSO-FcRn. Anti-human CS1 antibodies bound to K562 and Daudi cells (which are known to express native CS1) but not to negative control Jurkat cells. The data show that the produced anti-CS1 antibodies are capable of binding specifically to CS1. Also shown in the table were results from assaying (by ELISA) binding of Luc antibodies to CS1-γ3 fusion protein versus negative control AR-G3 (γ3 fusion protein). Luc antibodies bound specifically to CS1-γ3 and not to the negative control AR-γ3 fusion protein.

TABLE 1 Anti-human CS1 MABs generated from fusion 342 Results FACS (MFI) ELISA (capture) MAB NSO-CS1 NSO-FcRn K562 Daudi Jurkat CS1-G3 AR-G3 Subclones Mouse Ig ISO 1 Luc2 162 <5 13.4 10.5 <5 1.0 0.2 Luc2-1 IgG1 2 Luc3 377 <5 25.7 7.8 <5 0.9 0.5 Luc3-F IgG1, G2b 3 Luc15 110 <5 14.0 12.4 <5 1.1 0.3 Luc15-1 ND 4 Luc20 89 <5 8.0 12.6 <5 1.2 0.2 Luc20-1 ND 5 Luc22 228 <5 14.7 6.1 <5 0.6 0.2 Luc22-1 IgG2b 6 Luc23 164 <5 19.6 10.2 <5 0.6 0.2 Luc23-1 IgG1 7 Luc29 86 <5 24.1 11.9 <5 0.9 0.2 Luc29-D6, C8 IgG1 8 Luc32 201 <5 9.8 10.7 <5 0.8 0.2 Luc32-1 IgG2b 9 Luc34 127 <5 26.2 10.3 <5 1.2 0.3 Luc34-1, 34-3 IgG1 10 Luc35 184 <5 10.6 29.7 <5 0.7 0.2 Luc35-1 IgG2a 11 Luc37 366 <5 12.8 7.2 <5 0.6 0.2 Luc37-C12, F11 IgG2b 12 Luc38 112 <5 31.4 11.6 <5 0.8 0.2 Luc38-1 IgG2b 13 Luc39 117 <5 12.0 17.5 <5 0.4 0.2 Luc39-E10 IgG2a 14 Luc56 132 <5 12.6 9.7 <5 1.0 0.2 Luc56-1 IgG2a 15 Luc60 230 <5 14.6 10.4 <5 0.9 0.3 Luc60-2 IgG2b 16 Luc63 214 <5 15.8 12.7 <5 0.6 0.2 Luc63-1 IgG2a 17 Luc90 237 <5 9.7 10.1 <5 0.8 0.1 Luc90-H1, D9 IgG2b ISO control 14 3 5.41 6.02 <5 0.16 0.14 Anti-Myc 193 335 6.62 6.85 <5 0.19 0.15

The Amino Acid Sequences of the Produced Anti-CS1 Monoclonal Antibodies

Antibody heavy and light chain variable regions were cloned using standard techniques. Briefly, total RNA from 1-5×10⁶ cells was used to prepare cDNA using a SMART RACE cDNA Amplification Kit (BD Biosciences Clontech) and variable regions were PCR amplified using gene specific primers complementary to the mouse heavy and light chain constant regions.

The amino acid sequences of the mature heavy chain and the mature light chain of the antibodies Luc90, Luc63, and Luc34 are shown in Table 4.

Example 4 Characterization of CS1 Antibodies

A flow cytometry competition assay was used to determine the epitope specificity of 15 different anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies. NSO stable transfectants expressing surface CS1 (2×10⁵) were incubated on ice for 1 hour with 50 μl anti-CS1 antibodies, including pairwise combinations of Luc23, Luc29 Luc34, Luc35, Luc37, Luc38, Luc 63, and Luc 90. In parallel, isotype control antibody (AIP-13) was used as a negative control. Biotinylated anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies (Luc23, Luc34, Luc37, Luc38, Luc63, and Luc90) were incubated at 1 μg/ml with the cell/antibody mixture for additional 30 minutes on ice. After extensive washing, cells were incubated with phycoerythrin-conjugated streptavidin for 1 hour on ice. Cells were washed and cell surface-bound biotinylated antibodies were detected by FACS using a Becton Dickinson FACScan.

The unlabeled antibodies: Luc23, Luc34, Luc37, Luc38, Luc63, and Luc90 were tested for the ability to compete with each other at a concentration of 15 μg/ml, 3 μg/ml, and 0.6 μg/ml, and the competing or blocking antibodies were added at 1 μg/ml. AIP-13 was used as a negative control, since this antibody does not bind CS1 or compete with any of the Luc antibodies. The level of fluorescence (mean fluorescence intensity) (MFI) of the biotinylated antibodies is shown in the figure. A significant decrease in the MFI indicated competition for cell surface CS1 by biotinylated anti-CS1 by Mab versus unlabeled anti-CS1 Mab, by at least 50% compared to the MFI of the control antibody.

FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary result of the competition assays between the Luc antibodies when the blocking Luc monoclonal antibodies were used at a concentration of 15 μg/ml and 3 mg/ml. The competition assays indicated that several of the Luc antibodies contact distinct epitopes. Luc38 contacts an epitope distinct from the Luc37, 23, 90, and 63 epitopes. Luc63 contacts a separate, non-overlapping epitope that is distinct from the Luc37, 23, 90, and 38 epitopes. Luc90 contacts a different, non-overlapping epitope, distinct from the Luc 37, 23, 63, and 38 epitopes. Luc 23 contacts another non-overlapping epitope, distinct from the Luc90, 63, and 38 epitopes. Luc37 contacts an additional non-overlapping epitope, distinct from the epitopes contacted by Luc90, 63, and 38. Luc63 contacts an overlapping epitope with Luc34, while Luc90 contacts an overlapping epitope with Luc34. Luc37 contacts an epitope that overlaps with the epitope of Luc23. Luc34 blocks or significantly decreases binding of all Luc antibodies, and may either contact a broad, exposed epitope or may have higher affinity for CS1. Luc37, Luc23, and Luc38 do not block binding to CS1 by the Luc34 antibody. Epitopes for Luc37, Luc23, and Luc38 may be “buried” within the CS1 secondary structure, or the affinity for CS1 may be lower than the affinity of the Luc34 antibody.

The relative affinities of three monoclonal antibodies were also tested by Biacore analysis. Kinetic Analysis of CS1 MAbs by SPRKinetics measurements between human CS1-Fc fusion protein and anti-human CS1 monoclonal mouse antibodies Luc34.1, 63.2, and 90H1 were performed using BIAcore 2000 (BIAcore, Sweden). Regeneration condition was established by immobilizing over 10 000 RUs of each antibody onto different flow cells and injecting CS1-Fc over the surface, followed by testing a series of different buffers until the best one was found to optimize the clearance of CS1-Fc from each antibody. A buffer of 10 mM Glycine, pH2.0 was found to be the optimal regeneration buffer and was immediately tested for its reproducibility over 10 cycles of CS1-Fc injection and buffer regeneration. The buffer was found to be suitable for regenerating the antibody surface reproducibly. Hence 10 mM Glycine, pH2.0 was the designated regeneration buffer for the CS1-Fc and antibody BIAcore experiments.

CS1 antibody produced in-house was immobilized with low response units (RUs) ranging from 99.4 RUs to 133.7 RUs on the Research-grade CM5 sensor chip by the BIAcore amine coupling reagents (N-ethyl-N′-dimethylaminopropylcarbodiimide, EDC; N-hydroxysuccinimide, NHS; and ethanolamine HCl, pH 8.5). Assays were run at a flow rate of 30 u/min at room temperature. A three-minute association phase of CS1-Fc was followed by ten-minute injection of running buffer (10 mM Hepes, 300 mM sodium chloride, 3 mM EDTA, 0.05% P-20, pH7.4) to monitor dissociation for each binding cycle, with different CS1-Fc concentrations per cycle. The regeneration surface was regenerated with 10 mM Glycine, pH2.0. The binding kinetics of each CS1-Fc and antibody pair was calculated from a global analysis of sensorgram data collected from twelve different concentrations of CS1-Fc (1024 nM, 512 nM, 256 nM, 128 nM, 64 nM, 32 nM, 16 nM, 8 nM, 4 nM, 2 nM, 1 nM, 0.5 nM) in duplicate, using the BIAevaluate program. Double referencing was applied in each analysis to eliminate background responses from reference surface and buffer only control. The affinity (K_(D)) of binding was obtained by simultaneously fitting the association and dissociation phases of the sensorgram from the analyte concentration series using the bivalent analyte model from BIAevaluate software. The experiment was performed three times to study the standard deviation of the data.

The binding affinities of Luc 90.H1, Luc63.2, and Luc43.1 are summarized in FIG. 4. Luc90.H1 has highest binding affinity among these three antibodies. The binding affinity of Luc90.H1 is 5.5 fold higher than that of Luc 63.2 and 28 fold higher than that of Luc34.1.

Immunohistological Staining with Anti-CS1 Antibodies:

The CS1-transfected cells were also examined for immunohistological staining with anti-CS1 antibodies. An amount of 10 μg/ml of primary monoclonal anti-CS1 antibody was added to the cells transfected with CS1. The cells were then blocked with serum and incubated with the biotin-anti-mouse-Ig. Avidin-peroxidase was then mixed with the cells and developed with AEC (a standard peroxidase reagent). The red color of AEC indicated the positive staining while the nuclei of the tested cells were counter-stained with hematoxylin (blue). The data indicated that CS1-transfected cells were positively stained with the anti-CS1 antibodies, showing that the produced anti-CS1 antibodies are capable of binding to CS1 expressed on the cell surface (FIG. 5A). Thus, the anti-CS1 antibodies are suitable for use not only in detecting expression on the surface of peripheral blood cells in solution, but also in detecting by immunohistochemistry (IHC), which is typically used to analyze tissue sections (for example, patient lymph nodes or tissue biopsies).

FIG. 5B shows immunohistological staining of inflamed tonsil with two anti-CS1 antibodies, Luc90 and Luc63. Panels C and D in FIG. 5B show staining with CD138 which stains plasma cells and epithelial cells. The upper panels (FIG. 5B, panels A and B) show serial section staining with anti-CS1 antibodies. From the overlapping pattern of the staining, it is evident that CS1 antibodies stain plasma cells in inflamed tonsil.

FIG. 5C shows immunohistological staining of synovial tissue from the joint of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis with anti-CS1 Luc63. Plasma cells have infiltrated in the synovium as seen by the staining with CD138 (right hand, top panel). From the overlapping pattern of the staining (compare right hand top panel to left hand top panel), it is evident that anti-CS1 antibodies stain plasma cells in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

CS1 Protein Expression Pattern:

The CS1 protein expression was further examined with the produced Luc antibodies through FACS analysis (FIG. 6). PBMCs were isolated from healthy individuals and from lupus patients by a standard Ficoll Hypaque gradient centrifugation procedure. PBMCs were stained with antibodies as indicated following standard procedures. For pokeweed mitogen (PWM) activation of PBMCs, PWM was added at 1:100 dilution to PBMCs, which were subsequently placed at 37° C. in 7% CO₂ for 8 days. PWM-stimulated cells were harvested and washed prior to antibody staining. The mouse anti-CS1 antibodies used herein are Luc90 (IgG₂b), Luc63, Luc38 and other produced anti-CS1 Luc antibodies. Isotype control antibodies were isotype matched mouse IgG antibodies.

The results indicated that CS1 was positively expressed on activated B cells, CD8⁺ T cells (both activated and naïve), NK cells (CD3-CD56⁺), NKT cells (CD56⁺CD3⁺), CD14^(+/lo) leukocytes (monocytes and/or macrophages), and CD4⁺ T cells (low level on in vitro activated cells). CS1 was expressed on these cell populations from both healthy adults and lupus patients. No significant CS1 protein expression was detected on unactivated CD4⁺ T cells from healthy adults, platelets, HuVECs, kidney cells, bronchial airway cells, small airway cells, prostate cells, liver cells, and breast cells.

Sample staining of activated B cells is shown in FIG. 6, where staining of PWM-activated PBMCs is shown as the heavy line, while isotype control staining and unactivated PBMCs was shown as the underlaid dotted lines. The CS1 expression pattern is significant, because a therapeutic antibody ideally binds primarily to target cells and does not bind to other cells and tissues, especially platelets. The data suggest anti-CS1 antibodies are suitable candidate therapeutic antibodies.

Example 5 Humanization of CS1 Antibodies

This example describes the humanization of the murine anti-CS1 monoclonal antibody Luc63 (MuLuc63). Humanization of MuLuc63 was carried out essentially according to the procedure of Queen, C. et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 10029-10033 (1989)). First, human VH and VL segments with high homology to the MuLuc63 VH and VL amino acid sequences, respectively, were identified. Next, the CDR sequences together with framework amino acids important for maintaining the structures of the CDRs were grafted into the selected human framework sequences. The resulting humanized monoclonal antibody (HuLuc63) was expressed in the mouse myeloma cell line NS0. The humanized HuLuc63 antibody bound to recombinant human CS1 in an ELISA assay with an EC50 value of 70.1 ng/ml, similar to the EC50 value of 66.1 ng/ml determined for MuLuc63 in the same assay, indicating that HuLuc63 retained high binding affinity for human CS1.

Cloning and Sequencing of MuLuc63 Variable Region cDNAs

Total RNA was extracted from approximately 5×10⁷ hybridoma cells producing MuLuc63 using TRIzol reagent (Life Technologies, Inc., Rockville, Md.). Double-stranded cDNA was synthesized using the SMART RACE cDNA Amplification Kit (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) following the supplier's protocol. The variable region cDNAs for the heavy and light chains were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 3′ primers that anneal respectively to the mouse gamma and kappa chain C regions, and a 5′ universal primer provided in the SMART RACE cDNA Amplification Kit. For VH PCR, the 3′ primer has the sequence 5′-AGCTGGGAAGGTGTGCACAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:51). For VL PCR, the 3′ primer has the sequence 5′-TTCACTGCCATCAATCTTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO:52). The VH and VL cDNAs were subcloned into the pCR4Blunt-TOPO vector (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) for sequence determination. DNA sequencing was carried out by PCR cycle sequencing reactions with fluorescent dideoxy chain terminators (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Four plasmid clones were sequenced for each of the heavy and light chains. Unique sequences homologous to typical mouse heavy and light chain variable regions were identified. The cDNA sequences along with deduced amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chain V regions of MuLuc63 are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

Design of HuLuc63 V Regions

Humanization of the antibody V regions was carried out as outlined by Queen, C. et al. (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86: 10029-10033 (1989)). First, a molecular model of the MuLuc63 variable regions was constructed with the aid of the computer programs ABMOD and ENCAD (Levitt, M., J. Mol. Biol. 168: 595-620 (L983)). Next, based on a homology search against human antibody cDNA sequences, the human VH sequence E55 3-14 (Cuisinier et al, Eur. J. Imn. 23:110-118 (1993)) and the J segment JH1 (Ravetch, J. V. et al., Cell 27: 583-591 (1981)) were selected to provide the frameworks for the HuLuc63 heavy chain variable region. For the HuLuc63 light chain variable region, the cDNA VL sequence III-2R (Manheimer-Lory et al, J. Exp. Med. 174:1639-1652 (1991)) was used. The identity of the framework amino acids between MuLuc63 VH and the acceptor human frameworks was 81.6% (71/87), while the identity between MuLuc63 VL and the acceptor human frameworks was 76.3% (61/80).

At framework positions in which the computer model suggested significant contact with the CDRs, the amino acids from the MuLuc63 V regions were substituted for the original human framework amino acids. This was done at residues 28, 48, 49, 66 and 68 of the heavy chain (Table 7). For the light chain, replacement was made at residue 60 (Table 8). Note that the numbering system used here is that of Kabat (Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th ed., National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. (1991)).

In addition, inspection of the MuLuc63 amino acid sequence revealed a site for potential N-linked glycosylation in CDR2 of the VH region. Such N-linked glycosylation sites have the general sequence N-X-T/S (where N=asparagine, X=any amino acid, and S/T=serine or threonine). Since the presence of N-linked glycosylation in the variable domain could have undesirable effects during development of HuLuc63 as a therapeutic antibody, the potential glycosylation site in CDR2 (N-Y-T) was eliminated by substitution of threonine with alanine mutation (N-Y-A) in the humanized design.

The alignments of MuLuc63, HuLuc63, and the human acceptor amino acid sequences for VH and VL are shown in Tables 7 and 8, respectively.

Construction of HuLuc63 VH and VL Genes

A gene encoding each of HuLuc63 VH and VL was designed as a mini-exon including a signal peptide, a splice donor signal, and appropriate restriction enzyme sites for subsequent cloning into a mammalian expression vector. The splice donor signals in the VH and VL mini-exons were derived from the corresponding human germline JH6 and JK4 sequences, respectively. The signal peptide sequences in the HuLuc63 VH and VL mini-exons were derived from the corresponding MuLuc63 VH and VL sequences, respectively. The nucleotide sequences of Luc63 VH and VL genes along with deduced amino acid sequences are shown in Tables 5 and 6.

The HuLuc63 VH and VL genes were constructed by extension of overlapping synthetic oligonucleotides ranging in length from 33 to 43 bases and PCR amplification. (Stemmer et al, Gene 164:49-53 (1995)). Oligonucleotides for the synthesis of HuLuc63 VH and VL genes are listed in Table 9.

The PCR-amplified fragments were purified by Qiaquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen) and digested with MluI and XbaI. The HuLuc63 VH gene was subcloned into pHuHCg1.D to create plasmid pHuHCg1.D-HuLuc63. The HuLuc63 VL gene was subcloned into pHuCkappa.rgpt.dE, a derivative of the kappa light chain expression vector pOKT3.Vk.rg (Cole, M. S. et al., J. Immunol. 159: 3613-3621 (1997)), to create plasmid pHuCkappa.rgpt.dE-HuLuc63.

Expression of HuLuc63

HuLuc63 IgG1/κ antibody was produced by transient transfection of tissue culture cells. Human embryonic kidney cell line 293-H (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.) was maintained in DMEM (BioWhittaker, Walkersville, Md.) containing 10% FBS (HyClone, Logan, Utah) and non-essential amino acids (Invitrogen). 293-H cells were plated at 1×10⁶ cells per well in a volume of 2.5 ml in a 6-well plate the day before transfection using regular media (DMEM+10% FBS+non-essential amino acids). On the day of transfection, 4 μg of plasmid DNA per well was diluted in 250 μl of Hybridoma-SFM (H-SFM, Invitrogen). 10 μl of lipofectamine 2000 Reagent (LF2000, Invitrogen) per well was diluted in 250 μl H-SFM. Diluted DNA was combined with diluted LF2000 and incubated for 20 minutes to allow DNA-LF2000 complexes to form. 500 μl of DNA-LF2000 complexes were added to each well and mixed by tilting the plate back and forth. Cells were incubated for 5 days before harvesting supernatant for analysis.

Expression of HuLuc63 was measured by sandwich ELISA. Immulon 4 HBX plates (Thermo Labsystems, Franklin, Mass.) were coated overnight at 4° C. with 100 μl/well of 1.8 μg/ml of goat anti-human IgG Fcγ-chain specific polyclonal antibodies (Jackson ImmunoResearch Laboratories, Inc., West Grove, Pa.) in 0.2 M sodium carbonate-bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.4, washed with Wash Buffer (PBS containing 0.1% Tween 20), and blocked for 30 min at room temperature with 150 μl/well of SuperBlock Blocking Buffer in TBS (Pierce Chemical Company, Rockford, Ill.). After washing with Wash Buffer, samples containing HuLuc63 were appropriately diluted in ELISA Buffer (PBS containing 1% BSA and 0.1% Tween 20) and 100 μl/well was applied to the ELISA plates. As a standard, humanized anti-CD33 IgG1/κ monoclonal antibody HuM195 (Co, M. S. et al., J. Immunol., 148: 1149-1154 (1992)) was used. After incubating the plates for 1 hr at room temperature and washing with Wash Buffer, bound antibodies were detected using 100 μl/well of a 1:1000 dilution of HRP-conjugated goat anti-human kappa chain polyclonal antibodies (SouthernBiotech, Birmingham, Ala.). After incubating for 1 hr at room temperature and washing with Wash Buffer, color development was performed by adding 100 μl/well of ABTS substrate (KPL, Inc., Gaithersburg, Md.). Color development was stopped by adding 100 μl/well of 2% oxalic acid. Absorbance was read at 415 nm using a VersaMax microplate reader (Molecular Devices Corporation, Sunnyvale, Calif.).

Binding Properties of MuLuc63 and HuLuc63

The affinities of MuLuc63 and HuLuc63 to human CS-1 were analyzed by direct binding ELISA. Wells of 96-well ELISA plates (Immulon 4 HBX plates, Thermo Labsystems, Franklin, Mass.) were coated with 100 μl of 1 μg/ml soluble human CS1-human Fcγ3 fusion protein in PBS overnight at room temperature. After washing with Washing Buffer, wells were blocked with 150 μl of Superblock Blocking Buffer for 30 minutes at room temperature. Transiently expressed HuLuc63 antibody or purified MuLuc63 antibody were appropriately diluted in ELISA Buffer and applied to ELISA plates (100 μl per well). ELISA plates were incubated for 1 hour at room temperature and the wells were washed with Washing Buffer. Then 100 μl of HRP-conjugated goat-anti-human Cκ antibody or HRP-conjugated goat-anti-mouse Cκ antibody (both from Southern Biotech) diluted 1:1000 in ELISA Buffer was added to each well of the HuLuC63 and MuLuc63 plates, respectively and incubated at room temperature for 1 hour. After washing with Washing Buffer, 100 μl of ABTS substrate (KPL) was added to each well. Color development was stopped by adding 100 μl of 2% oxalic acid per well. Absorbance was read at 415 nm using a VERSAmax microplate reader. The results of the ELISA binding experiments are shown in FIG. 7. MuLuc63 and HuLuc63 bind to human CS-1-Fcγ3 in a concentration-dependent manner. The EC₅₀ value of HuLuc63, obtained using the computer software GraphPad Prism (GraphPad Software Inc., San Diego, Calif.), was 70.1 ng/ml. This is similar to the EC50 value of 66.1 ng/ml obtained for muLuc63, indicating that humanization of mouse anti-CS1 monoclonal antibody MuLuc63 was successful: HuLuc63 retained high binding affinity to human CS1. A model of the humanized Luc63 variable region is shown in FIG. 8.

Example 6 Role of CS1 in Autoimmune Disorders CS1 is Highly Expressed in Stimulated T and B Cells, as Compared to Unstimulated Cells:

To determine the expression of CS1, an in-vitro assay was set up to stimulate peripheral blood B and T lymphocytes, using pokeweed mitogen (PWM) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulants. Unstimulated control peripheral blood mononuclear cells were prepared in parallel with no stimulation. PolyA⁺ mRNA was isolated and cDNA was synthesized from these samples using standard techniques. The CS1 gene was amplified by PCR using CS1-specific oligonucleotide primers (see above) and expression was quantified using Biorad Gel Doc 2000. Signal intensities were normalized to control human β-actin. Real time PCR analysis indicated that CS1 showed about 23-fold up-regulation in activated peripheral blood B cells and about 30-fold up-regulation in activated peripheral blood T lymphocytes, as compared to unstimulated cells (FIG. 9).

CS1 is Up-Regulated in the Lupus Patient's Peripheral Blood B Lymphocytes as Compared to Those of the Age-Matched Healthy Adults:

To evaluate CS1 expression in lupus patients compared to healthy individuals, peripheral blood B lymphocytes were isolated by cell sorting of CD19⁺ cells from a lupus patient versus a pool of healthy adults. Poly^(A+) mRNA was isolated and cDNA was synthesized by using standard techniques. CS1 expression was evaluated by real time PCR using oligonucleotide primers specific to CS1. Real time PCR data indicated that CS1 is up-regulated about 2-fold in B lymphocytes from the lupus patient as compared to the healthy individuals. Upon normalization with β-actin, the CS1 gene was increased 2.3 fold in the lupus patient's B lymphocyte cDNA as compared to the healthy individuals cDNA. When normalized with 18S rRNA primers, CS1 was increased 1.8 fold in the respective cDNA samples (FIG. 10).

Up-Regulation of Mouse Novel Ly9 in Activated B and Activated T Cells:

Mouse novel Ly9 is a proposed orthologue of human CS1 (Tovar et al., Immunogenetics 54: 394-402 (2002)). The expression of mouse novel Ly9 in activated B and activated T cells was examined with real time PCR. The data showed that mouse novel Ly9 is up-regulated in activated B and activated T cells.

Mouse novel Ly9 expression was analyzed with an ABI GeneAmp 5700 Sequence Detection System (see Example 2). Upon normalization with 18S rRNA primers, the Ly9 gene was increased by 3 fold in the conA-stimulated cDNA, and up-regulated by 6 fold in LPS-stimulated cDNA as compared to the unstimulated splenic cDNA.

Upregulation of CS1 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Tissue

The expression of IBD modulator protein(s) in IBD tissue (both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) versus normal tissue was determined on microchip arrays as described above. Oligonucleotide microarrays were interrogated with cRNAs derived from multiple tissues. More specifically, cRNAs were generated by in vitro transcription assays (IVTs) from nine IBD and nine matched adjacent normal bowel specimens, and 24 colonic epithelial samples. cRNA hybridization to the oligonucleotide microarrays was measured by the average fluorescence intensity (AI), which is directly proportional to the expression level of the gene.

The data was analyzed by comparing gene expression levels in IBD to non-pathogenic adult tissues and organs. One of the genes identified with a significant increase in gene expression in inflammatory bowel disease tissue compared to normal tissue is CS1. FIG. 11 is a graphic representation of the microarray analysis, showing that CS1 gene expression is increased in ulcerative colitis and Crohn's as compared to healthy adult colonic epithelial cells.

To further evaluate CS1 expression in inflammatory bowel disease patients compared to healthy individuals, samples from diseased sections of large intestine from 2 Crohn's disease patients and 3 ulcerative colitis patients versus normal large intestine samples from 3 healthy adults were disaggregated, washed, and placed in TRIZOL®. Total RNA was isolated following the manufacturer's protocol. The total RNA was treated with Rnase free Dnase (GenHunter). The Dnase digested RNA was extracted with phenol/chloroform, and precipitated overnight with ethanol. RNA was washed with 75% ethanol and dissolved in nuclease-free water. RNA was quantified and the integrity of the RNA was analyzed on an agarose gel. Real time PCR data (FIG. 2) indicated that CS1 is up-regulated 7-fold and 6-fold in diseased large intestine from Crohn's patients (n=2) and 13-fold, 14-fold and 46-fold in diseased large intestine from ulcerative colitis patients (n=3) compared to pooled normal intestine from healthy individuals (n=3).

Example 7 CS1 Expression on Cancer Cells CS1 Protein Expression Pattern:

CS1 protein expression was further examined with the produced Luc antibodies through FACS analysis. Cell lines were incubated with anti-CS1 Luc90.H1 antibodies or mouse IgG2b isotype control antibodies for 30 minutes on ice. Cells were washed with PBS and phycoerythrin (PE)-conjugated anti-mouse Ig was added to the cells and incubated for 30 minutes on ice. Cells were washed and analyzed by flow cytometry on a FACS Caliber (Becton Dickinson). Histogram plots are shown in FIG. 13, where signal from Luc90.H1 antibodies is shown as the overlapping bold line. Underlying lines include negative controls (unstained cells, secondary antibody (anti-mouse Ig-PE with no primary antibody), or isotype control antibody.). These data show that CS1 is expressed in ARH-77 leukemia line cells, CESS and IM9 B lymphoblastoid cell lines, and L363, LP1, and OPM2 myeloma cell lines.

Samples from patients with multiple myeloma (n=21 bone marrow samples), a patients-with MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance; n=1), a patient with plasma cell leukemia (n=1), CD34+ stem cells mobilized from bone marrow (n=5), normal marrow cells (n=3), normal lymph node tissue (n=1), patients with Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia (CLL; n=15), patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML; n=11), a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL; n=1), and a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma (n=1) were incubated with FITC conjugated antibodies to CS1 (Luc90 or Luc63), CD45-PerCP, CD38-PE, and/or CD138-PE and processed as detailed above for FACS analysis of myeloma cells (see FIG. 14). The mouse anti-CS1 antibodies used herein are Luc90 (IgG₂b), Luc63 (IgG2a), Luc38 (IgG2b) and other produced anti-CS1 Luc antibodies. Isotype control antibodies were isotype matched mouse IgG antibodies.

Bone marrow aspirates were obtained from multiple myeloma patients from the Cleveland Clinic. Myeloma cell lines (LP1, L363, OPM2, NCI-H929, RPMI 8226, and U266 B1), the leukemia cell line ARH-77, B lymphoblastoid lines (IM9, CESS), and bone marrow cells were stained with anti-CS1 monoclonal antibodies versus isotype control antibodies (Becton Dickinson) following a standard staining protocol. Cells were washed, placed in staining buffer (RPMI, 10% FBS for human cells or DMEM, 10% FBS), and anti-CS1 versus isotype control antibodies were added at 0.5-1 ug antibody per million cells in 0.1 ml final volume. For patient samples, red blood cells were lysed, and cells were pelleted in a centrifuge and resuspended in staining buffer. For antibodies that were not directly conjugated to FITC, second stage antibodies were added at 0.5-1 ug antibody per million cells in 0.1 ml final volume. Cells were washed and resuspended in staining buffer for FACS analysis on a Becton Dickinson FACSCaliber using CellQuest software. To distinguish plasma cells, multiple myeloma bone marrow cells were stained with anti-CD45, anti-syndecan-1 (CD138), and anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies. Anti-syndecan-1 (CD138) specifically stains plasma cells and not other leukocytes.

The results show that CS1 is highly expressed on plasma cells (eg CD138+ cells) from multiple myeloma patients (FIGS. 14A-14H), plasma cells from a plasma cell leukemia patient (FIG. 14I), and on several myeloma cell lines (L363, LP1, and OPM2; see FIG. 13). A total of 21 different bone marrow samples from multiple myeloma patients have been assayed by flow and for all 21 out of 21 samples, virtually all of the bone marrow plasma cells express CS1. CS1 is also expressed on ARH-77 leukemia cells and B lymphoblastoid cell lines (IM9 and CESS) (see FIG. 13).

Example 8 Expression of CS1 on Plasma Cells from Myeloma Patient

Bone marrow samples from a multiple myeloma patient were stained with CD138-PE, CD45PerCP, Luc90-FITC, and/or IgG2b-FITC (isotype control antibody) and analyzed by FACS as detailed above (see Example 5). Gated cells are as follows: gate R1 contains lymphocytes (“R1”), gate R2 contains monocytes (“R2”), gate R3 contains granulocytes (“R3”), gate R4 contains erythroid cells (“R4”), gate R5 contains plasma cells (“R5”), and gate R6 contains blasts (“R6”). FIG. 15 shows that CS1 is expressed on plasma cells (eg CD138+ cells) from the multiple myeloma patient.

Example 9 Anti-CS1 Monoclonal Antibody Decreases IgM Secretion by Activated Peripheral Blood B Cells

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a normal adult were isolated by a standard Ficoll gradient, incubated with pokeweed mitogen at 10 μg/ml (GIBCO/BRL, England, the United Kingdom), and plated in a 24-well plate in a total volume of 1 ml. Monoclonal antibody (mouse anti-human CS1 (Luc63) or mouse IgG isotype control) was added to sample wells at 100 μg/ml or 10 μg/ml. The cells and the antibody were incubated at 37° C. in 7% CO₂ for 8 days. Supernatants from cultures were isolated and IgM was assayed by ELISA as described above. As shown in FIG. 16, the antibody Luc63 at 100 μg/ml or 10 μg/ml (PwLuc100 and PwLuc10, respectively) decreased the secretion of IgM of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells compared to IgM secretion by cells incubated with the isotype control at 100 μg/ml or 10 μg/ml (PwIg100 and PwIg10, respectively) or no antibody (Pw(−)).

Anti-CS1 Monoclonal Antibody Decreases IgM Secretion by Auto-Immune Disease Patient Activated Peripheral Blood B Cells:

Supernatants from the cell cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated as detailed above and assayed by ELISA. Immulon-1 plates were coated with 100 μl of 1 μg/ml mouse anti-human IgM monoclonal antibody (catalog #05-4900, Zymed Laboratories, Inc., South San Francisco, Calif.) in PBS. The plates were blocked for 1 hour with ELISA Buffer (‘EB’=PBS+0.1% BSA+0.05% Tween 20). The culture supernatants were added at various dilutions (in EB) at 100 μl/well. The supernatants and standard human IgM (catalog #009-000-012, Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Me.) were incubated for 1-2 hours at room temperature. Captured human IgM was developed with goat anti-human IgM-HRP polyclonal antibody (catalog #2020-05, Southern Biotech Association, Birmingham, Ala.) and HRP substrate, by following the manufacturer's protocol. Bound IgM was visualized by spectrophotometry (405 nm OD) on a standard ELISA plate reader. As shown in FIG. 17, the amount of the secreted IgM of the lupus patient PBMCs was reduced by the treatment with anti-CS1 antibodies (Luc90H1) as compared to the isotype control. A positive control anti-CD2 antibody (GLO1) showed that anti-CS1 is even more robust at reducing IgM production than the anti-CD2 antibody.

Anti-CS1 Monoclonal Antibody Decreases IgG Production by Peripheral Blood B Cells from Healthy Adults and from Auto-Immune Disease Patients.

IgG production by peripheral blood B cells from healthy adults and autoimmune disease (lupus) patients were analyzed the same way as the IgM production. As shown in FIG. 18, the total production by healthy adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells 9 days after the treatment with the anti-CS1 antibody (Luc90H.1) decreased by about 23% as compared with the IgG2b isotype control. The total production of IgG by lupus patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells 9 days after the treatment with anti-CS1 antibody (Luc90H.1) decreased by about 56% as compared with the IgG2b isotype control. Tables 3A and B summarize the inhibition of the IgG production by a number of generated anti-CS1 antibodies. As shown in Table 3A, Luc90.H1 reduced by about 40% the IgG production by PBMCs activated with lipopolysaccharide or pokeweed mitogen. Luc34.1 reduced by about 38% the IgG production by PBMCs activated with pokeweed mitogen. As shown in Table 3B, Luc 90.H1 reduced the IgG production of PBMCs of a healthy adult and a mature B cell line (IM9 cells) by about 48%. Luc 34.1 reduced the IgG production of PBMCs of the healthy adult by about 53%. Luc 63.2 reduced the IgG production of PBMCs and IM9 cells by about 47%. From these experiments, it is evident that Luc 90H.1, Luc34.1, and Luc 63.2 are the best functional antibodies. From epitope mapping, Luc90 and Luc63 have nonoverlapping epitopes.

TABLE 3A ANTI-CS-1 DECREASES IG PRODUCTION By In Vitro Activated B Cells Mean Percent Decrease Compared to Isotype Control ANTI- In Vitro Activated CS-1 Average % Decrease PBMCs MAB HuIgG ± SE Lipopolysaccharide Luc 90.H1 41% ± 8% (n = 3) Pokeweed Mitogen Luc 90.H1 39% ± 9% (n = 4) Pokeweed Mitogen Luc 34.1 38% ± 7% (n = 4)

TABLE 3B Summary of Ig Production Assays with Anti-CS-1 Antibody Panel MEAN PERCENT CHANGE IN IG COMPARED TO ISOTYPE CONTROL ANTI-CS1 PMBC PMBC Average % Mab Donor 55 Donor 705 IM9 Change in Ig Luc90H.1 −44% −56% −43% −48% Luc37 +11% −43% −11% −14% Luc23 −13% −4% +6% −4% Luc63.2 −55% −51% −36% −47% Luc34.1 −64% −49% −45% −53% Luc38.1 −22% −44% −21% −29% Luc29D6 −43% −44% −25% −37% Relative Decrease in Ig Production: Group A (>45% dec): Luc 90, 63, 34 I. GROUP B (29-37% DEC): LUC38, 29D6 II. GROUP C (4-14% DEC): LUC 37, 23

The experimental results indicated that anti-CS1 antibodies decrease the production of both IgG and IgM by peripheral blood B cells in vitro.

Example 10 In Vivo Reduction of IgG by CS1 Monoclonal Antibodies in a SCID-HuPBMC Mouse Model SCID-HuPBMC Mouse Model

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated by standard Ficoll-paque (Amersham Biosciences) density gradients and resuspended in phosphate buffered solution (PBS) at 2×10⁷ PBMCs/ml. Resuspended PBMCs (1 ml) were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) into C.B-17 SCID mice. Two to three weeks after PBMC injection, serum samples were drawn from mice and assayed for human IgG by ELISA. Engrafted mice (producing >1 μg/ml human IgG in serum) were randomized into treatment groups and then treated with mouse anti-human CS-1 monoclonal antibodies (Luc90.H1 or Luc63.2.22), mouse isotype control antibodies (IgG2b or IgG2a, respectively), or PBS. Mice were dosed with 200 ug of antibody in 500 μl PBS every 3-4 days with 3 or 4 doses of antibody. Mouse serum was analyzed for human IgG by ELISA using standard protocols.

The percent change in serum human IgG was calculated for each mouse by subtracting human IgG concentration prior to the first dose of antibody (day 0) from the human IgG concentration post dose (day x), dividing by the human IgG concentration prior to the first dose (day 0), and multiplying by 100, e.g., [(day x−day 0)/day 0]×100. Data are shown as the average percent change with the standard error for each group of mice. Human IgG concentrations are the average concentration with the standard error for each group of mice. The Welch 2 sample t-test was used to compare the percent change in human IgG across treatment groups.

Anti-CS1 Antibodies Reduced the Production of Human IgG In Vivo

The data shows that anti-CS1 antibodies of the present invention reduce human immunoglobulin production substantially in the SCID-HuPBMC transfer model. As shown in FIG. 19A, Luc90.H1 held down the increase in IgG production in PBS and isotype control as early as Day 4 (4 days after the treatment with the first dose of the antibody). This reduction continued throughout the 7 weeks (Day 32) of the test period. For example, at Day 18, the human IgG production increased by 225% in IgG2b isotype control, by 181% in the PBS control, while human IgG production decreased by 14% with Luc90H.1 treatment. Luc90H.1 not only abolished the 181-225% increase in the human IgG production in the control groups, but also resulted in an additional 14% decrease in the IgG production. At Day 25, Luc90H.1 not only abolished the 3 fold increase in human IgG production in the control groups but also gave an additional 24% decrease in human IgG production.

Luc 63.2 also effectively reduced IgG production in vivo. As shown in FIG. 19B, Luc63.2 abolished the 37-46% increase in human IgG production in the control groups (PBS and IgG2a isotype control) and gave rise to an additional 59% decrease in IgG production. In this same study, Luc90.H1 was compared with Luc63.2 and Luc90.H1 abolished the 37-114% increase in the control groups (PBS and IgG2b isotype control) and gave an additional 14% decrease in IgG production by mice engrafted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

FIG. 19C-further summarizes the reduction in the Ig production by Luc90 and Luc63 treatment in the SCIDHuPBMC model. While abolishing the increase of IgG production in mice treated with isotype and PBS controls, Luc90 caused an additional decrease in IgG production by 14%, 22%, 24%, and 39%, and Luc63 had additional decrease by 40% and 59%. Thus, we can conclude that anti-Luc treatment of SCID mice engrafted with human PBMCs (SCID-HuPBMC) not only completely abolishes the increase in human immunoglobulin normally observed in the serum of these animals, but also gives an additional decrease compared to pretreatment levels.

Example 11 ADCC Activities of Anti-CS1 Antibodies Effector Cells Preparation:

Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) (effector cells) were isolated from whole blood using standard density Ficoll-Paque (Amersham Biosciences) gradients. Cells were washed and resuspended in RPMI medium supplemented with 1% bovine serum albumin (BSA).

Target Cells Preparation:

Stable transfectant cells expressing cell surface CS-1 (target cells) were washed and resuspended in RPMI medium supplemented with 1% BSA. Cells were plated at 100,000 cells/well in 50 μl total volume. Mouse anti-human CS-1 monoclonal antibodies (Luc90.H1 or Luc63.2.22) or isotype control antibodies (mouse IgG2b or IgG2a, respectively) were added at various concentrations to the target cells in a final volume of 100 μl, and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature.

After incubation, 100 μl of effector PBMCs were added to the target cells at a 20:1 ratio in 200 μl final volume. Target and effector cells were incubated at 37° C. for 5 hours or overnight. Cells were centrifuged at 350×g for 5 minutes, and 100 μl/well of supernatant was collected and transferred into an optically clear 96-well flat bottom microtiter plate.

Lactate Dehydrogenase Assay:

To determine the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity contained in the supernatants, 100 μl reaction mixture from Cytotoxicity Detection Kit (Roche Applied Science, Indianapolis, Ind.) was added to each well, and samples were incubated for up to 30 minutes at 15-25° C. During this incubation period, the microtiter plate was protected from light. The absorbance of the samples was measured at 490 nm using an ELISA reader.

To determine the percentage of cell-mediated cytotoxicity, the average absorbance of the samples was calculated and background controls were subtracted using the following equation:

${{Cytotoxicity}\mspace{14mu} (\%)} = {\frac{{L\; D\; H\mspace{14mu} {release}_{sample}} - {S\; R_{effector}} - {S\; R_{target}}}{{M\; R_{target}} - {S\; R_{target}}} \times 100}$

SR: Spontaneous Release MR: Maximum Release

The experimental controls were spontaneous release of the target cells alone or the effector cells alone. The target cells were assayed in 2% Triton-X 100 (1:1) solution.

Anti-CS1 Antibodies Induce Antibody-Derived Cytotoxicity (ADCC)

The experiment showed that anti-CS1 antibodies Luc63.2 and Luc90 induced antibody-derived cytotoxicity (ADCC) of cells expressing CS1 in the presence of PBMCs (the effector cells). As shown in FIG. 20, Luc90 induces cytotoxicity in a dosage-dependent manner. An amount of 50 μg/ml of Luc90 induced almost 50% cytotoxicity of the target cells. Luc63.2 generally induced 60-80% cytotoxicity of the target cells with a dose range of 10-50 μg/ml. Similar results were obtained from experiments conducted with two additional donors.

Example 12 ADCC Activity with Low Fucose CS1 Antibodies

Cloning of Luc90 Variable Region cDNAs

The murine variable regions (sequence ID #3 and #4) were cloned from the Luc90 hybridoma cell line by standard methods. Briefly, total RNA was extracted and double-stranded cDNA was synthesized using the SMART 5′-RACE cDNA Amplification Kit (BD Biosciences Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.) following the supplier's protocol. PCR fragments of the variable region cDNAs were cloned into the pCR4Blunt-TOPO vector (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) for sequence determination. Several plasmid clones were sequenced for each of the heavy and light chains. Unique sequences homologous to typical mouse heavy and light chain variable regions were identified.

Construction of Chimeric Luc90 VH and VL Expression Vectors

A gene encoding each of Luc90 VH and VL was designed as a mini-exon including a signal peptide, a splice donor signal, Kozak initiation sequence and appropriate restriction enzyme sites for subsequent cloning into a mammalian expression vector. Primers were designed to contain the appropriate restrictions sites and complementarity for PCR from the TOPO vectors containing either the VH or VL genes. The PCR-amplified fragments were purified by Qiaquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen) and digested with MluI and XbaI. The Luc90 VH gene was subcloned into pHuHCg1.D (wildtype) or pHuHCg1.D.AA (BS mutant) to create the plasmids pChiHuHCg1.D-MuLuc90VH and pChiHuHCg1.D.AA-MuLuc90VH, respectively. The BS mutant contains two amino acid changes (L234A/L235A) in the CH2 region of IgG1, such that binding to Fc receptors is abolished (Xu et al., (2000) Cell Immunol. 200:16-26). The Luc90 VL gene was subcloned into pVk to create the plasmid pChiVk-MuLuc90VL. Single plasmid expression vectors were created such that the heavy and light chain genes could be expressed from a single plasmid. The heavy chain vectors were digested with EcoRI to remove the entire heavy chain region and subcloned into a single EcoRI sight in the light chain vector. The BS mutant heavy chain was combined with pChiVk-MuLuc90VL vector fragment to create the plasmid pChiLuc90-BSK while the wildtype heavy chain was subcloned into pChiVk-MuLuc90VL vector to create the plasmid pChiLuc90-g1K.

Expression of Chimeric Luc90

Chimeric Luc90 IgG1/K wildtype and BS antibodies were produced by stable transfection of Sp2/0 cells with the pChiLuc90-g1K and pChiLuc90-BSK vectors, respectively. A low-fucose antibody was produced by stable transfection of YB2/0 cells with the pChiLuc90-g1K vector. Positive clones were selected for with mycophenolic acid media and screened by ELISA. The wildtype clone AH4, BS mutant HG12 and low-fucose clone 5E4 were selected for high expression, adapted to Gibco Hybridoma serum free media with 2% low Ig Fetal Bovine Serum. Two liter cultures were grown in roller bottles for purification. Antibodies were purified by standard Protein-G affinity column chromatography.

FIGS. 21A-C. Data on effect of low fucose antibodies in cytotoxicity assays CS1 expressing cells (stable transfectant and human multiple myeloma cell lines) were treated with anti-CS1 Luc90 chimeric antibodies (both wild type and antibodies modified with decreased levels of fucose). Anti-CS1 Luc90 chimeric antibodies stimulate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of cells expressing CS1. (FIG. 21A shows cytotoxicity of a stable cell line expressing human CS1; FIGS. 21B and 21C depict cytotoxicity of two human myeloma cell lines, OPM2 (FIG. 21B) and L363 (FIG. 21C). In each case, cytotoxicity is significantly enhanced by antibodies which have low levels of fucose (through growth in YB2/0 cells as detailed above.)

Example 13 Treatment of Myeloma with Anti-CS1 Antibodies

Treatment with anti-CS1 antibody in vivo was performed on a myeloma mouse tumor model by injecting antibody intraperitoneally into the test subject. As shown in FIG. 22, anti-CS1 antibody treatment (Luc63 and Luc90) decreases tumor size compared to isotype control treated animals. In this study, 1×10⁷ myeloma cells (L363 myeloma cell line) were i.p. injected into CB.17 SCID mice. Two weeks later, when tumor size reached ˜80 mm3, mice were randomized into 4 groups with 8 mice per group. Mice were treated with anti-CS1 antibodies (Luc63 or Luc90) or isotype control antibodies (mouse IgG2a or mouse IgG2b). Mice were dosed with 200 μg antibody/mouse for 8 doses at 3 doses per week. The results show that mice treated with anti-CS1 antibodies have significantly reduced tumor volumes compared to isotype control antibody treated mice. By day 25 of the study (after 5 doses), Luc 63 treated mice show average tumor size ˜100 mm³ compared to IgG2a isotype control antibody treated mice (average tumor size ˜800 mm³.) Luc 90 treated mice show average tumor size ˜400 mm³ compared to IgG2b isotype control antibody treated mice (which have average tumor size ˜950 mm³.) Mice treated with anti-CS1 Luc63 have no measurable tumors for up to 2.5 weeks post treatment, pointing to the striking efficacy of the antibody at eliminating tumorigenic cells.

Additional model systems for myeloma include SCID mice implanted intravenously (i.v.), intraperitoneally (i.p.) or directly injected into the bone (orthotopically) with fluorescently-labeled or unlabeled myeloma or mature B-cell lines, e.g. ARH77, CESS, IM9, L363, LP1 and OPM2. These lines will be used to test the effects of antagonist treatment in myeloma animal model systems. These cell lines express the antigen recognized by anti-human CS1 antibodies. Animals are randomized into groups and subjected to a treatment regimen with anti-human CS1 antibodies or control antibodies (for example, isotype control antibodies). Antibodies are administered at several dosage levels, for example a dose of 1-10 mg/kg for a total of 9-10 doses given intraperitoneally every 3-4 days. Tumor size is measured twice weekly for 3540 days for each treatment group. Clinical manifestations of myeloma are noted. Dates of death are recorded for each mouse.

Animal studies will also be initiated to determine the potential synergy between anti-CS1 antibody treatment and chemotherapy. Xenograft tumors are allowed to grow until they reach an approximate size of between 50-100 mm³, and for mice injected i.v., i.p. or orthotopically, cancer cells are allowed to engraft in animals. At that time, animals are randomized into groups and subjected to a treatment regimen with anti-human CS1 antibodies or control antibodies (for example, isotype control antibodies). Alternatively, animals may be subjected to treatment with anti-human CS1 antibodies or control antibodies (for example, isotype control antibodies) in combination with standard chemotherapy agents, including combinations of prednisone and melphalan or other alkylating agents (e.g. cyclophosphamide or chlorambucil), or vincristine, doxorubicin and high-dose dexamethasone (VAD) treatment, or other chemotherapy regimens known to those of skill in the art. Antibodies are administered at several dosage levels, for example a dose of 1-10 mg/kg for a total of 9-10 doses given intraperitoneally every 3-4 days. Chemotherapy is administered intraperitoneally every 3-4 days at an effective concentration, for example 1 mg/kg or other effective dose that is known to those of skill in the art. Tumor size (for s.c. injected animals) is measured twice weekly for 35-40 days for each treatment group. Clinical manifestations of myeloma are noted, including serum immunoglobulin in mice injected with cell lines that secrete human immunoglobulin (IM9, CESS, ARH-77, and LP-1). Dates of death are recorded for each mouse. The efficacy of antibody treatment in the presence and absence of chemotherapy will be evaluated.

It is understood that the examples described above in no way serve to limit the true scope of this invention, but rather are presented for illustrative purposes. All publications, sequences of accession numbers, and patent applications cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as if each individual publication, accession number, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

TABLE 2 SEQ ID NO:1 PDL primekey: 433671 DNA Sequence Nucleic Acid Accession #: NM_021181 GI:19923571|ref|NM_021181.3|Homo sapiens SLAM family member 7 (SLAMF7), mRNA    1 cttccagaga gcaatatggc tggttcccca acatgcctca ccctcatcta tatcctttgg   61 cagctcacag ggtcagcagc ctctggaccc gtgaaagagc tggtcggttc cgttggtggg  121 gccgtgactt tccccctgaa gtccaaagta aagcaagttg actctattgt ctggaccttc  181 aacacaaccc ctcttgtcac catacagcca gaagggggca ctatcatagt gacccaaaat  241 cgtaataggg agagagtaga cttcccagat gaggctact ccctgaagct cagcaaactg  301 aagaagaatg actcagggat ctactatgtg gggatataca gctcatcact ccagcagccc  361 tccacccagg agtacgtgct gcatgtctac gagcacctgt caaagcctaa agtcaccatg  421 ggtctgcaga gcaataagaa tggcacctgt gtgaccaatc tgacatgctg catggaacat  481 ggggaagagg atgtgattta tacctggaag gccctggggc aagcagccaa tgagtcccat  541 aatgggtcca tcctccccat ctcctggaga tggggagaaa gtgatatgac cttcatctgc  601 gttgccagga accctgtcag cagaaacttc tcaagcccca tccttgccag gaagctctgt  661 gaaggtgctg ctgatgaccc agattcctcc atggtcctcc tgtgcttcct gttggtgccc  721 ctcctgctca gtctctttgt actggggcta tttctttggt ttctgaagag agagagacaa  781 gaagagtaca ttgaagagaa gaagagagtg gacatttgtc gggaaactcc taacatatgc  841 ccccattctg gagagaacac agagtacgac acaatccctc acactaatag aacaatccta  901 aaggaagatc cagcaaatac ggtttactcc actgtggaaa taccgaaaaa gatggaaaat  961 ccccactcac tgctcacgat gccagacaca ccaaggctat ttgcctatga gaatgttatc 1021 tagacagcag tgcactcccc taagtctctg ctcaaaaaaa aaacaattct cggcccaaag 1081 aaaacaatca gaagaattca ctgatttgac tagaaacatc aaggaagaat gaagaacgtt 1141 gacttttttc caggataaat tatctctgat gcttctttag atttaagagt tcataattcc 1201 atccactgct gagaaatctc ctcaaaccca gaaggtttaa tcacttcatc ccaaaaatgg 1261 gattgtgaat gtcagcaaac cataaaaaaa gtgcttagaa gtattcctat agaaatgtaa 1321 atgcaaggtc acacatatta atgacagcct gttgtattaa tgatggctcc aggtcagtgt 1381 ctggagtttc attccatccc agggcttgga tgtaaggatt ataccaagag tcttgctacc 1441 aggagggcaa gaagaccaaa acagacagac aagtccagca gaagcagatg cacctgacaa 1501 aaatggatgt attaattggc tctataaact atgtgcccag cactatgctg agcttacact 1561 aattggtcag acgtgctgtc tgccctcatg aaattggctc caaatgaatg aactactttc 1621 atgagcagtt gtagcaggcc tgaccacaga ttcccagagg gccaggtgtg gatccacagg 1681 acttgaaggt caaagttcac aaagatgaag aatcagggta gctgaccatg tttggcagat 1741 actataatgg agacacagaa gtgtgcatgg cccaaggaca aggaccctca gccaggcttc 1801 atttatgcac ttgtgctgca aaagaaaagt ctaggtttta aggctgtgcc agaacccatc 1861 ccaataaaga gaccgagtct gaagtcacat tgtaaatcta gtgtaggaga cttggagtca 1921 ggcagtgaga ctggtggggc acggggggca gtgggtactt gtaaaccttt aaagatggtt 1981 aattcattca atagatattt attaagaacc tatgcggccc ggcatggtgg ctcacacctg 2041 taatcccagc actttgggag gccaaggtgg gtgggtcatc tgaggtcagg agttcaagac 2101 cagcctggcc aacatggtga aaccccatct ctactaaaga tacaaaaatt tgctgagcgt 2161 ggtggtgtgc acctgtaatc ccagctactc gagaggccaa ggcatgagaa tcgcttgaac 2221 ctgggaggtg gaggttgcag tgagctgaga tggcaccact gcactccggc ctaggcaacg 2281 agagcaaaac tccaatacaa acaaacaaac aaacacctgt gctaggtcag tctggcacgt 2341 aagatgaaca tccctaccaa cacagagctc accatctctt atacttaagt gaaaaacatg 2401 gggaagggga aaggggaatg gctgcttttg atattgtccc tgacacatat cttgaatgga 2461 gacctcccta ccaagtgatg aaagtgttga aaaacttaat aacaaatgct tgttgggcaa 2521 gaatgggatt gaggattatc ttctctcaga aaggcattgt gaaggaattg agccagatct 2581 ctctccctac tgcaaaaccc tattgtagta aaaaagtctt ctttactatc ttaataaaac 2641 agatattgtg agattcaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aa SEQ ID NO:2 Amino Acid Sequence-CS1 GI:19923571|ref|NM_021181.31|Homo sapiens SLAM family member 7 (SLAMF7) MAGSPTCLTLIYILWQLTGSAASGPVKELVGSVGGAVTFPLKSKVKQVDSIVWTFNTTPLVTIQPEGGTI IVTQNRNRERVDFPDGGYSLKLSKLKKNDSGIYYVGIYSSSQQPSTQEYVLHVYEHLSKPKVTMGLQSNK NGTCVTNLTCCMEHGEEDVIYTWKALGQAANESHNGSILPISWRWGESDMTFICVARNPVSRNFSSPILA RKLCEGAADDPDSSMVLLCLLLVPLLLSLFVLGLFLWFLKRERQEEYIEEKKRVDICRETPNICPHSGEN TEYDTIPHTNRTILKEDPANTVYSTVEIPKKMENPHSLLTMPDTPRLFAYENVI

TABLE 4 Amino Acid Sequences of CS1 Antibodies Luc-90 VH-SEQ ID NO:3 QVQLQQPGAELVRPGASVKLSCKASGYSFTTYWMNWVKQRPGQGLEWIGMIHPSDSETRLNQ                            SEQ ID NO:9          SEQ ID NO:10 KFKDKATLTVDKSSSTAYMQLSSPTSEDSAVYYCARSTMIATRAMDYWGQGTSVTVSS                                     SEQ ID NO:11 Luc-90 VL-SEQ ID NO:4 DIVMTQSQKSMSTSVGDRVSITCKASQDVITGVAWYQQKPGQSPKLLIYSASYRYTGVPDRF                       SEQ ID NO:12             SEQ ID NO:13 TGSGSGTDFTFTISNVQAEDLAVYYCQQHYSTPLTFGAGTKLELK                           SEQ ID NO:14 Luc-63 VH-SEQ ID NO:5 EVKLLESGGGLVQPGGSLKLSCAASGFDFSRYWMSWVRQAPGKGLEWIGEINPDSSTINYTP                            SEQ ID NO:15          SEQ ID NO:16 SLKDKFIISRDNAKNTLYLQMSKVRSEDTALYYCARPDGNYWYFDVWGAGTTVTVSS                                    SEQ ID NO:17 Luc-63 VL-SEQ ID NO:6 DIVMTQSHKFHSTSVGDRVSITCKASQDVGIAVAWYQQKPGQSPKLLIYWASTRHTGVPDRF                        SEQ ID NO:18            SEQ ID NO:19 TGSGSGTDFTLTISNVQSEDLADYFCQQYSSYPYTFGGGTKLEIK                          SEQ ID NO:20 Luc-34 VH-SEQ ID NO:7 QVQLQQSGAELARPGASVKLSCKASGYTFTSYWMQWVKQRPGQGLEWIGAIYPGDGDTRYTQ                             SEQ ID NO:21         SEQ ID NO:22 KFKGKATLTADKSSSTAYMQLSSLASEDSAVYYCARGKVYYGSNPFAYWGQGTLVTVSA                                     SEQ ID NO:23 Luc-34 VL-SEQ ID NO:8 DIQMTQSSSYLSVSLGGRVTITCKASDHINNWLAWYQQKPGNAPRLLISGATSLETGVPSRF                        SEQ ID NO:24            SEQ ID NO:25 SGSGSGKDYTLSITSLQTEDVATYYCQQYWSTPWTFGGGTKLEIK                          SEQ ID NO:26

TABLE 5 Anti-CS1 Luc63 Variable Heavy Chain Region Putative Glycosylation Site

TABLE 6 Luc63 (NYA) Humanization MuLuc-63 VH EVKLLESGGGLVQPGGSLKLSCAASGFDFS RYWMS WVRQAPGKGLEWIG EINPDSSTINYTPSLKD HumanVH cDNA EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFS       WVRQAPGKGLEWVA HuLuc-63 VH EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFDFS RYWMS WVRQAPGKGLEWIG EINPDSSTINYAPSLKD MuLuc-63 VH KFIISRDNAKNTLYLQMSKVRSEDTALYYCAR PDGNYWYFDV WGAGTTVTVSS HumanJH1cDNA RFTISRDNAKNSLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR HuLuc-63 VH KFIISRDNAKNSLYLQMNSLRAEDTAVYYCAR PDGNYWYFDV WGQGTLVTVSS MuLuc-63 VL DIVMTQSHKFMSTSVGDRVSITC KASQDVGIAVA WYQQKPGQSPKLLIY WASTRHT HumanVL cDNA DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC             WYQQKPGKVPKLLIY HuLuc-63 VL DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC KASQDVGIAVA WYQQKPGKVPKLLIY WASTRHT MuLuc-63 VL QVPDRFTGSGSGTDFTLTISNVQSEDLADYFC QQYSSYPYT FGGGTKLEIK HumanVL cDNA GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDVATYYC           FGQGTKVEIK HuLuc-63 VL GVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDVATYYC QQYSSYPYT FGQGTKVEIK

TABLE 7 Alignment of the VII regions of MuLuc63 (SEQ ID NO:45), E55 3-14 (SEQ ID NO:46), HuLuc63 (SEQ ID NO:47)          1         2         3         4          0         0         0         0 MuLuc63 EVKLLESGGGLVQPGGSLKLSCAASGFDFSRYWMSWVRQAPG E55 3-14 EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFTFS-----WVRQAPG HuLuc63 EVQLVESGGGLVQPGGSLRLSCAASGFDFSRYWMSWVRQAPG        5          6         7         8        0  a       0         0         0  a MuLuc-63      KGLEWIGEINPDSSTINYTPSLKDKFIISRDNAKNTLYLQMS E55 3-14 KGLEWVA-----------------RFTISRDNAKNSLYLQMN HuLuc-63      KGLEWIGEINPDSSTINY A PSLKDKFIISRDNAKNSLYLQMN                    1           1          9         0           1 bc       0         0ab         0 MuLuc-63      KVRSEDTALYYCARPDGNYWYFDVWGAGTTVTVSS E55 3-14/JH1 SLRAEDTAVYYCAR----------WGQGTLVTVSS HuLuc-63 SLRAEDTAVYYCARPDGNYWYFDVWGQGTLVTVSS

TABLE 8 Alignment of the VL region of MuLuc63 (SEQ ID NO:48), III-2R (SEQ ID NO:49) and HuLuc63 (SEQ ID NO:50) antibody amino acid sequences          1         2        3          4          0         0        0         0 MuLuc63 DIVMTQSHKFMSTSVGDRVSITCKASQDVGIAVAWYQQKPGQ III-2R DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITC-----------WYQQKPGK HuLuc63 DIQMTQSPSSLSASVGDRVTITCKASQDVGIAVAWYQQKPGK        5         6         7         8        0         0         0         0 MuLuc63 SPKLLIYWASTRHTGVPDRFTGSGSGTDFTLTISNVQSEDLA III-2R VPKLLIY-------GVPSRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDVA HuLuc63 VPKLLIYWASTRHTGVPDRFSGSGSGTDFTLTISSLQPEDVA                   1      9         0      0         0 MuLuc63 DYFCQQYSSYPYTFGGGTKLEIK III-2R TYYC---------FGQGTKVEIK HuLuc63 TYYCQQYSSYPYTFGQGTKVEIK

TABLE 9 Oligonucleotides Used for the Synthesis of the HuLuc63 VH and VL gene HuLuc63 VH Gene Oligonucleotide 1 (SEQ ID NO:53) 5′-TTTACGCGTCCACCATGGATTTTGGGCTGATTT-3′ Oligonucleotide 2 (SEQ ID NO:54) 5′-TTTTTATTGTTGCTCTTTTAAAAGGGGTCCAGTGTGAGGT-3′ Oligonucleotide 3 (SEQ ID NO:55) 5′-GCAGCTTGTCGAGTCTGGAGGTGGCCTGGTGCAGCCTGGA-3′ Oligonucleotide 4 (SEQ ID NO:56) 5′-GGATCCCTGAGACTCTCCTGTGCAGCCTCAGGATTCGATT-3′ Oligonucleotide 5 5′-TTAGTAGATATTGGATGAGTTGGGTCCGGCAGGCTCCAGG-3′ Oligonucleotide 6 5′-GAAAGGGCTAGAATGGATTGGAGAAATTAATCCAGATAGC-3′ Oligonucleotide 7 5′-AGTACGATAAACTATGCTCCATCTCTAAAGGATAAATTCA-3′ Oligonucleotide 8 5′-TCATCTCCAGAGACAACGCCAAAAATAGCCTGTACCTGCA-3′ Oligonucleotide 9 5′-AATGAACAGCCTCAGAGCTGAGGACACAGCCGTTTATTAC-3′ Oligonucleotide 10 5′-TGTGCAAGACCGGACGGAAACTACTGGTACTTCGATGTCT-3′ Oligonucleotide 11 5′-GGGGCCAGGGGACCCTCGTCACCGTCTCCTCAGGTAAGAA-3′ Oligonucleotide 12 5′-TTTTCTAGAGGCCATTCTTACCTGAGGAGACGGT-3′ Oligonucleotide 13 5′-GACGAGGGTCCCCTGGCCCCAGACATCGAAGTACCAGTAG-3′ Oligonucleotide 14 5′-TTTCCGTCCGGTCTTGCACAGTAATAAACGGCTGTGTCCT-3′ Oligonucleotide 15 5′-CAGCTCTGAGGCTGTTCATTTGCAGGTACAGGCTATTTTT-3′ Oligonucleotide 16 5′-GGCGTTGTCTCTGGAGATGATGAATTTATCCTTTAGAGAT-3′ Oligonucleotide 17 5′-GGAGCATAGTTTATCGTACTGCTATCTGGATTAATTTCTC-3′ Oligonucleotide 18 5′-CAATCCATTCTAGCCCTTTCCCTGGAGCCTGCCGGACCCA-3′ Oligonucleotide 19 5′-ACTCATCCAATATCTACTAAAATCGAATCCTGAGGCTGCA-3′ Oligonucleotide 20 5′-CAGGAGAGTCTCAGGGATCCTCCAGGCTGCACCAGGCCAC-3′ Oligonuoleotide 21 5′-CTCCAGACTCGACAAGCTGCACCTCACACTGGACCCCTTT-3′ Oligonucleotide 22 5′-TAAAAGAGCAACAATAAAAAAAATCAGCCCAAAATCCATG-3′ HuLuc63 VL Gene Oligonucleotide A 5′-TTTACGCGTCCACCATGGAGACACATTCTCAGGTCTTTGTATA-3′ Oligonucleotide B 5′-CATGTTGCTGTGGTTGTCTGGTGTTGAAGGAGACATTCAG-3′ Oligonucleotide C 5′-ATGACCCAGTCTCCTTCATCACTTTCCGCATCAGTAGGAG-3′ Oligonucleotide D 5′-ACAGAGTCACTATCACCTGCAAGGCCAGTCAGGATGTGGG-3′ Oligonucleotide E 5′-TATTGCTGTAGCCTGGTATCAACAGAAACCAGGGAAAGTA-3′ Oligonucleotide F 5′-CCTAAACTATTGATTTACTGGGCATCCACCCGGCACACTG-3′ Oligonucleotide G 5′-GAGTCCCTGATCGATTCTCAGGCAGTGGATCTGGGACAGA-3′ Oligonucleotide H 5′-TTTCACTCTCACCATTAGCTCACTACAGCCTGAAGACGTG-3′ Oligonucleotide I 5′-GCAACTTATTACTGTCAGCAATATAGCAGCTATCCATACA-3′ Oligonucleotide J 5′-CGTTCGGACAGGGGACCAAGGTGGAAATCAAACGTAAGTG-3′ Oligonucleotide K 5′-TTTTCTAGATTAGGAAAGTGCACTTACGTTTGATTTCCAC-3′ Oligonucleotide L 5′-CTTGGTCCCCTGTCCGAACGTGTATGGATAGCTGCTATAT-3′ Oligonucleotide M 5′-TGCTGACAGTAATAAGTTGCCACGTCTTCAGGCTGTAGTG-3′ Oligonucleotide N 5′-AGCTAATGGTGAGAGTGAAATCTGTCCCAGATCCACTGCC-3′ Oligonucleotide O 5′-TGAGAATCGATCAGGGACTCCAGTGTGCCGGGTGGATGCC-3′ Oligonucleotide P 5′-CAGTAAATCAATAGTTTAGGTACTTTCCCTGGTTTCTGTT-3′ Oligonucleotide Q 5′-GATACCAGGCTACAGCAATACCCACATCCTGACTGGCCTT-3′ Oligonucleotide R 5′-GCAGGTGATAGTGACTCTGTCTCCTACTGATGCGGAAAGT-3′ Oligonucleotide S 5′-GATGAAGGAGACTGGGTCATCTGAATGTCTCCTTCAACAC-3′ Oligonucleotide T 5′-CAGACAACCACAGCAACATGTATACAAAGACCTGAGAATG-3′ 

1-51. (canceled)
 52. A monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment that binds a protein encoded by SEQ ID NO:1 and inhibits immunoglobulin secretion.
 53. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 52 which decreases by 50% in a competitive binding assay the binding to a protein encoded by SEQ ID NO:1 of a control antibody obtainable from a hybridoma bearing ATCC designation No. PTA-5091.
 54. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 53 which comprises an amino acid sequence sharing at least 85% identity with a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:11.
 55. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 54 which comprises an amino acid sequence sharing at least 85% identity with a sequence selected from SEQ NO: 12, SEQ ID NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14.
 56. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 53 which comprises amino acid sequences corresponding to SEQ ID NO:9, SEQ ID NO:10 and SEQ ID NO:11, SEQ NO:12, SEQ NO:13 and SEQ ID NO:14.
 57. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 56 which comprises a VH region comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:3, and a VL region comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:4.
 58. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 59 which is obtainable from a hybridoma bearing ATCC designation No. PTA-5091.
 59. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 53 which comprises an amino acid sequence sharing at least 85% identity with a sequence selected from SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22 and SEQ ID NO:23.
 60. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 59 which comprises an amino acid sequence sharing at least 85% identity with a sequence selected from SEQ NO:24, SEQ NO:25 and SEQ ID NO:26.
 61. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 53 which comprises amino acid sequences corresponding to SEQ ID NO:21, SEQ ID NO:22, SEQ ID NO:23, SEQ NO:24, SEQ NO:25 and SEQ ID NO:26.
 62. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 61 which comprises a VH region comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:7, and a VL region comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO:
 8. 63. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 52 which inhibits immunoglobulin secretion by at least 40%.
 64. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 52 which is an IgG₁.
 65. The monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim 52 which is a human or humanized antibody.
 66. A conjugate compound comprising a monoclonal antibody or antigen binding fragment according claim 52 linked to an effector moiety or a detectable label.
 67. The conjugate compound of claim 66 in which the antibody or antigen binding fragment is linked to a detectable label.
 68. The conjugate compound of claim 67 in which the detectable label is a radioactive compound, a fluorescent compound, an enzyme, a substrate, an epitope tag or a toxin.
 69. The conjugate compound of claim 66 in which the antibody or antigen binding fragment is linked to an effector moiety.
 70. The conjugate compound of claim 69 in which the effector moiety is a cytotoxic agent.
 71. The conjugate compound of claim 69 in which the effector moiety is a detection moiety, an activatable moiety, a chemotherapeutic agent, a lipase, an antibiotic, a chemoattracting moiety, an immune modulator, or a radioisotope.
 72. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim
 52. 73. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the conjugate compound of claim
 66. 74. A method of treating a plasma cell neoplasm, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the antibody or antigen binding fragment of claim
 52. 75. The method of claim 74, wherein the plasma cell neoplasm is multiple myeloma.
 76. A method of treating a plasma cell neoplasm, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof the conjugate compound of claim
 66. 77. The method of claim 76, wherein the plasma cell neoplasm is multiple myeloma. 